First black smoke from Sistine Chapel signals no new pope
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos
Black smoke rises from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel meaning that cardinals failed to elect a new pope in the first ballot of their secret conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
VATICAN CITY (AFP) - The first black smoke emerged from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel roof on Tuesday, signalling that the cardinals meeting in a secret conclave have failed in their first vote to elect a new pope.
As the smoke billowed out of the chimney, tens of thousands of onlookers in St Peter's Square cheered in excitement or booed in mock disappointment.
