A Pivotal Conclave: A New Era for the Catholic Church Begins

The Roman Catholic conclave resumed on Thursday, as cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to decide on a new pope for the world's 1.4 billion faithful. This historic gathering sees 133 cardinals from 70 nations participating in the election process.

The ritualized election began Wednesday, but by evening, black smoke signaled no consensus had been reached. Typically, modern popes aren't elected on the first ballot, so the anticipation was set for possible results by the second day, with up to four voting rounds possible.

Despite no clear favorites, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are considered front-runners. Should they fail to secure the required two-thirds majority, votes may shift to other candidates, influenced by geographical ties, doctrinal views, or shared languages. The conclave follows a pontificate marked by a push for openness, dividing opinion among the electors.

(With inputs from agencies.)