Black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday evening, signaling that the cardinals failed to reach a consensus on Pope Francis' successor in the first round of voting. The conclave, involving 130 cardinals, commenced with a solemn procession and oath-taking. The secretive process, employing high-tech measures to ensure secrecy, is expected to last several days. No clear favorite emerged among the contenders, with diverse opinions on the church's future direction. The cardinals will reconvene Thursday to continue voting, aiming for the two-thirds majority required to elect a new pope. White smoke will signal the election of a new pontiff.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.