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VATICAN CITY -- More black smoke billowed from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel Wednesday morning, as two votes of the 115 cardinals gathered for the papal conclave failed to result in the election of a new pope.
The cardinals will now spend the afternoon on a long lunch break, before voting resumes later in the afternoon. Wednesday's fresh black smoke comes following the first full day of the secret conclave at the famous Chapel Tuesday. The cardinals failed to reach an agreement, and the first batch of votes burned black Tuesday night.
A new pope will be elected with two-thirds of the cardinals vote for the same man. Once the cardinals vote, they will burn the ballots. White smoke coming from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel signals a new pope has been chosen, but black smoke means they could not come to an agreement on who the next pope should be.
The cardinals will continue the centuries-old tradition with as many as four votes each day. Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola and Brazil's Odilo Scherer are favorites for Vatican insiders. Others like the charisma of New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan. One cardinal must get 77 votes to become the next pope.
If the cardinals do not elect a new pope by Friday, they will hold a day of prayer and reflection on Saturday, before resuming voting.
