Black smoke billows out of the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican as cardinals failed twice on Wednesday morning to elect a new pope. The 115 voting cardinals will return again Wednesday later in the day to resume voting. The new pope must receive a two-thirds majority, or 77 votes to become the 266th pontiff.
A woman stands in St. Peter's Square as thousands watch the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican spew black smoke again on Wednesday morning.
Concetta Staltari, 19, of McCandles keeps an eye on the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican as thousands filled St. Peter's Square to await the smoke from the conclave.
Nuns wait in St. Peter's Square.
Betsy and Will Frederick, of Ft. Worth, Texas take photos as they wait in St. Peter's Square, joining thousands of others, watching the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel for the results of the morning votes by the conclave.
A couple holds each other as they wait in St. Peter's Square. To read more about the conclave and the historic events in Rome, read Betsy Hiel's reporting in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.