There was no new Pope chosen after the third ballot of the conclave to elect the 267th Pope. At 11:50 AM on Thursday, black smoke rose from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel, indicating that the cardinals had not yet reached a decision. This marked the second ballot of the first full day of voting, and it was still inconclusive, according to Vatican News. As the cardinals broke for lunch, people in St. Peter's Square continued to look up at the chimney, hoping for news. Voting is expected to resume around 4:00 PM. About 15,000 people gathered in the square to await the announcement. Among

There was no new Pope chosen after the third ballot of the conclave to elect the 267th Pope. At 11:50 AM on Thursday, black smoke rose from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel, indicating that the cardinals had not yet reached a decision. This marked the second ballot of the first full day of voting, and it was still inconclusive, according to Vatican News. As the cardinals broke for lunch, people in St. Peter's Square continued to look up at the chimney, hoping for news. Voting is expected to resume around 4:00 PM. About 15,000 people gathered in the square to await the announcement. Among them were Sarah and Cameron, a newlywed couple from Indiana who were in Rome for their honeymoon. They had planned to attend Mass with Pope Francis on Thursday but were disappointed when they learned this would no longer happen. Despite this, they were excited to be part of such a historic event. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Sarah said. Sarah shared her hope for the next Pope, saying, "I hope the new Pope can be a voice of reason in a troubled world." Fr. Prashant Padu, a student from the Archdiocese of Bombay, also expressed hope for the future leader of the Church. "The Church has been blessed with wonderful Popes," he said. "I hope the next Pope will be able to encompass the best qualities of them all." As the cardinals prepare for more voting, people around the world continue to hope for a new Pope who can lead the Church with wisdom and compassion.

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