According to Vatican News, the cardinals broke for lunch as anticipation builds among the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Voting is expected to resume around 16:00 local time.The conclave to elect the 267th Pope has reached a critical juncture, with no candidate emerging as the new leader of the Catholic Church after the third ballot.

The black smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney at 11:50 Thursday afternoon signalled that the second round of voting on the first full day of the conclave was inconclusive.

According to Vatican News, the cardinals broke for lunch as anticipation builds among the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Voting is expected to resume around 16:00 local time.

A massive crowd of approximately 15,000 people has gathered in St. Peter’s Square, eagerly awaiting the announcement of the new Pope. Among them are newlyweds Sarah and Cameron from Indiana, who were initially scheduled to attend Mass with Pope Francis on Thursday.

“We’re sad that’s not happening now, but we know this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” they said, expressing hope that the new Pope will be a voice of reason in a troubled world.

Fr. Prashant Padu, a student in Rome from the Archdiocese of Bombay, echoed similar sentiments, saying, “The Church has been blessed with wonderful Popes.” He hopes the next Pope will embody the best qualities of their predecessors. The papal conclave is a centuries-old tradition in which cardinals gather to elect a new Pope, typically requiring a two-thirds supermajority vote. The process involves rigorous procedures, including the seclusion of cardinals in the Sistine Chapel and strict rules governing the election process.