Black smoke emerged from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 22:00 (Kenyan time) on Wednesday, May 7 evening, signalling that a first ballot has been held at the conclave and has concluded without the election of a Pope.

The Vatican reports that around 45,000 people had gathered in St Peter’s Square to await the announcement, which had been expected some time after 8pm.

In the end, they had to wait until 10, and the vote conducted during the first day of the conclave had not resulted in the election of a pope.

Deacon Nicholas Nkoronko from Tanzania was among those in the square, saying that their role is to join with other Catholics and Christians to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide the whole process.

“Wherever the new Pope comes from”, Deacon Nkoronko told Vatican News. “Whether it’s Africa, Asia, America, what we need is we need a holy Pope. We need a Pope who will guide the Church and will be the pastor of the Church.”

The conclave will continue today (Thursday, May 8) 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.