BLACK smoke has poured from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signalling that cardinals have failed to elect a pope on their first try.
The cardinals held the first day of the conclave today deeply divided over the problems of the church and who best among them could fix them following the stunning resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
The Vatican made clear it didn’t expect a winner on the first ballot.
The cardinals now return to the Vatican’s Santa Marta hotel for the night.
They return to the Apostolic Palace for Mass tomorrow morning and a new round of voting.
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A cardinal attends a Mass for the election of a new pope inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Faithful hold their umbrellas as they follow a mass inside St. Peter's Basilica celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, seen on a giant screen in St. Peter's Square
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Nigerian Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, center, attends a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Priests attend a Mass for the election of a new pope inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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A pilgrim kneels in St. Peter's Square during a mass at St. Peter's Basilica attended by cardinals before sequestering themselves in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave to elect the next pope at the Vatican
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US Cardinal Justin Rigali, right, attends a Mass for the election of a new pope inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola arrives for a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Nigerian Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, right, is seen with other cardinals attending a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn attends a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Brazilian Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, left, and Cardinal Mauro Piacenza attend a Mass for the election of a new pope inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, of the US, attends a Mass for the election of a new pope inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Cardinal Peter Erdo, of Hungary, right, and Cardinal Mauro Piacenza attend a Mass for the election of a new pope inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Cardinals, in red, and faithful attend a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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German Cardinal Reinhard Marx attends a Mass for the election of a new pope inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Cardinals, in red, and faithful attend a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Photographers shoot photos of friars as they cross St. Peter's Square during a rain storm at the Vatican
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Cardinals, in red, and faithful attend a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Cardinals attend a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican,
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Cardinal Angelo Sodano celebrates a Mass for the election of a new pope inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Cardinal Timothy Dolan, of the US, attends a Mass for the election of a new pope inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
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Italian Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, second from left, attends a Mass for the election of a new pope inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican
