Smoke signal sent by Cardinals from Sistine Chapel in major Pope decision update

The wait for the 267th pope to be elected is set to continue as black smoke has been spotted billowing from the chimney

Billions around the are eagerly waiting to discover who will replace the , who died on Easter Monday. More than 130 cardinals began the Conclave - the centuries-old ritual to elect a successor - earlier today as they hustled inside the chapel. People filled St. Peter's Square as their first vote to choose a new pope was taken, as they waited for smoke to waft from a chimney over the chapel.

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It seems the wait is set to continue as black smoke was seen, meaning they have so far failed to elect a new pontiff. White smoke will be seen once the new pope has been decided.

Vatican News said: "Black smoke signalled the end of the first day of the conclave at 21:00, hours after the doors of the Sistine Chapel were closed with the words, "Extra omnes" or "Everyone out."

"This means the conclave will continue tomorrow morning when the Cardinal electors will gather once more in the Chapel around 10:30am Rome time to cast their votes again for the election of the 267th Pope."

The election of the new pope is the most secretive democratic process in the , with even its name - from the Latin ‘cum clave’, or ‘with key’ vividly conveying its clandestine nature. And the man who emerges wearing white is one of the world’s most powerful leaders, considered the successor of St Peter, the first apostle, and leader of 1.4billion Catholics.

Among those to make the journey to see the election was Tom Hallett, 65, who came to Rome from Florida. He said: “I feel he will be Italian since it hasn't been like that since 1978. "It will be God's choice."

Since ’ death 15 days ago cardinals from all over the world - known as the ‘princes of the church’ - have been making their way to Rome, where there have been meeting daily as the numbers of participating clerics gradually grew.

The clerics hand in the their phones and swear an oath of secrecy, along with all staff such as cooks, housekeepers and doctors, with an ominous clause that anyone who leaks conclave details will be automatically excommunicated from the church forever. Cardinals must also avoid newspapers, radio, television and the internet.

Although this particular conclave could have begun on May 5, it's believed the delayed starting date of May 7 may allow the cardinals to become better acquainted and reach a consensus on a candidate or, at least, frontrunners.

The length of the process can vary, so an end date isn't exactly clear. Except for the first day, cardinals have the opportunity to cast their votes four times—twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon.