By KT Reporter
Black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Monday evening, signaling that the first round of voting in the papal conclave had ended without a clear winner.
At exactly 10:00pm Ugandan time, the world watched as the dark plume confirmed that no candidate had secured the required two-thirds majority to become the next pope.
The vote marked the beginning of a closely guarded process involving 133 cardinal electors — the largest number in the Church’s history — including 17 from Africa. Inside the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals who entered at around 5:30pm cast their initial ballots under strict secrecy, as tradition demands.
The conclave follows a period of mourning, the “Pro Eligendo Papa” Mass, and several days of closed-door general congregations where the cardinals discussed the needs of the global Church and the qualities desired in its new leader.
This historic gathering was triggered by the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, bringing an end to a transformative papacy known for its humility, social advocacy, and institutional reforms.
As per centuries-old Vatican tradition, black smoke rising from the chapel’s chimney indicates no pope has been elected, while white smoke — accompanied by the ringing of bells — will eventually announce the successful election of a new pontiff.
Before the chapel doors were sealed, the cardinals took an oath of secrecy, pledging to withhold all details of the voting and to support the chosen successor. They will now remain isolated from the outside world until the conclave concludes.
Meanwhile, at St. Peter’s Square, thousands of faithful and curious onlookers stood motionless, their eyes and cameras fixed on the small chimney.
“The chimney is, from now, the most viewed piece of metal in the world,” a Wilson Akiiki Kaija a Ugandan journalist noted, capturing the mood of suspense that continues to grip the Catholic world -URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
