No new pope yet on latest conclave
-A A +AWednesday, March 13, 2013
VATICAN CITY (2nd Update) -- Black smoke billowed out from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel Wednesday evening (Philippine time), signaling that Roman Catholic cardinals have not elected a pope in their second or third rounds of balloting.
Cardinals voted twice Wednesday in Michelangelo's famed frescoed chapel after a first vote Tuesday in a conclave to elect a successor to Benedict XVI, who stunned the Catholic world last month by becoming the first pope in 600 years to resign.
The schedule for Wednesday's voting includes a brief prayer followed by two rounds of morning balloting from the 115 cardinals. View schedule
Since no one gets the necessary 77 votes yet, cardinals break for lunch and return for two more ballots in the afternoon (Vatican time).
The drama — with stage sets by Michelangelo and an outcome that is anyone's guess — is playing out against the backdrop of the turmoil unleashed by Benedict XVI's surprise resignation and the exposure of deep divisions among cardinals.
As a result, many analysts predict a long conclave. (AP)
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