By Abigael Gioche
The first ballot to elect the new Pope concluded with no Pope elected.
According to Vatican News this is after black smoke emerged from the chimney at the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City yesterday evening at 9.00 Pm signifying that no Pope had been elected yet.
Around 45,000 people had gathered at the St. Peter’s Square to await the results of the first ballot.
Deacon Nicholas Nkoronko who was present highlighted the need of prayer in the entire process.
“Our role here is to pray and to join with other Christians, other Catholics, to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide the whole process,” stated Deacon Nicholas.
“Wherever the new Pope comes from,” Deacon Nkoronko stressed.
“Whether it’s Africa, Asia, America, what we need is we need a holy Pope. We need a Pope who will guide the Church and will be the pastor of the Church,” he added.
The process is done by the conclave, which comprises 133 cardinals who act as cardinal electors, and is confined within the Sistine Chapel at Vatican City.
The cardinal electors and others involved in the process take a vow of secrecy to ensure complete secrecy.
The Pope is elected in a secret ballot, where two- thirds majority of the total votes of participators is required, in this case, at least 89 of the 133 votes.
According to Vatican, it concludes with the smoke signal from the chimney at the Sistine Chapel, which is added with chemicals, with black signifying no Pope has been elected yet, and white when one has.
The second round of elections is set to resume today, Thursday 8th May.
Four rounds of voting are scheduled, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
The election comes sixteen days after the death of Pope Francis last month.