A dense plume of black smoke has risen from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, indicating that the College of Cardinals has yet to reach a consensus on the next pontiff to succeed Pope Francis.

As the dark smoke curled into the sky above Vatican City, a hushed wave of disappointment swept through the assembled faithful in St. Peter’s Square. 

This visible signal, steeped in tradition, confirms that the initial round of ballots did not produce the two-thirds majority required to appoint the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.