Overview

• The College of Cardinals has entered the second day of the conclave, casting multiple ballots but failing to achieve the two-thirds majority needed to elect the 267th pope.
• Black smoke was seen rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney again on Thursday, indicating no decision has been reached in the voting process.
• The conclave, the largest and most geographically diverse in history, includes 133 electors from 70 countries, with 108 appointed by Pope Francis, reflecting his reformist legacy.
• Key papal candidates include Cardinals Luis Tagle, Matteo Zuppi, and Pietro Parolin, representing a spectrum of progressive and traditionalist visions for the Church's future leadership.
• The cardinals remain sequestered under strict secrecy protocols, with voting scheduled to continue twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon until a new pope is chosen.