CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) -
Thousands of spectators gathered in Vatican
City on Tuesday in hopes of learning who their next pope is, but black smoke later seen from
the Sistine Chapel chimney meant no decision had been made.
For about three hours, the 115 Cardinals
locked themselves into the chapel for conclave but failed to gain two thirds
of the vote needed to elect a new pope. This comes just weeks after Pope
Benedict stepped down from his post unexpectedly.
Nearly 1.2 billion Catholics around the world are
waiting for white smoke to appear from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.
"Everyone's praying that the cardinals
make a wise decision," said local practicing Catholic, Alan Fodor.
Cardinals dressed in scarlet robes filed into
the chapel and took their oath of secrecy on Tuesday. Upon the closing of
the chapel doors, the conclave began.
"The Holy Father just sets the tone for
us as believers of Christ, as followers of Christ, and we're excited to see how
that voice comes to pass," said Father Kyle Schnippel of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati.
But what part of the world will the newest
pope come from? The United States has 11 of the 115 votes, second behind only Italy, but
never before has an American been elected pope.
"An American, O'Malley from Boston. That'd be something. That'd be awesome," said local Catholic, John Dixon.
However, the decision isn't easy. There's
debate among the Cardinals whether the new pope should have a managerial
mindset to clean up some of the church's turmoil in recent years or focus his
work as a pastor.
"You just need someone that you have
faith in that can lead you," said Fodor.
"When he comes out of that balcony, the
excitement. I'm getting chills just thinking about it," said Schnippel.
The
Cardinals continue the voting Wednesday, two times in the morning, and if
no white smoke emerges, they'll vote again two times in the afternoon. The
process will continue into Thursday if no decision has been made.
Officials say
on average the last nine conclaves have lasted three days.
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