After more than three hours of intense seclusion, black smoke puffed out from the chapel’s chimney — signaling that the cardinals had not reached a decision during the first round of voting. Tens of thousands of people stood shoulder to shoulder in St. Peter’s Square to watch. When the smoke rose, many onlookers cheered; others groaned.

Black smoke appeared from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on Thursday, signalling that cardinals meeting in a secret conclave did not elect a new pope during their two morning ballots.