Black smoke rises from Vatican chimney after first day of conclave to elect new pope

Black smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney late on Wednesday, indicating no pope was elected on the first ballot of the conclave to choose a new leader of the Catholic Church.

The smoke billowed out at 9 p.m. Wednesday, some four hours after 133 cardinals solemnly entered the Sistine Chapel, took their oaths of secrecy and formally opened the centuries-old ritual to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

They will return to the Sistine Chapel Thursday morning to resume the voting process.