The 115 cardinal electors entered the conclave in the Sistine’s Renaissance splendor on Tuesday and held their first inconclusive ballot that evening.

Black smoke emerged again on Wednesday after the cardinals held two morning ballots. Before returning to the conclave they had prayed for inspiration from God to choose a leader who can lead the Church out of scandal and internal strife.

Two more sessions will be held on Wednesday afternoon under a schedule that sees four votes each day. When the new pontiff is elected, white smoke will billow from the makeshift chimney above the chapel and the bells of St Peter’s Basilica will ring.

The black smoke on Wednesday caused disappointment among excited crowds braving incessant rain in St. Peter’s Square, but few had expected a decision so soon after the conclave began.

“You can’t expect a microwave pope. It’s a process. These men are trying carefully to work out who should be the next to lead them. I am kind of happy it wasn’t white smoke because I just showed up,” 34-year-old American artist and missionary Adrian Britton told Reuters in the sprawling square.

“I am a bit disappointed because we wanted to see the white smoke, and we’re only here for one more day,” said 25-year-old Austrian student Daniela Weber as she stood among the hundreds of spectators sheltering under umbrellas.

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http://dailies.com.ng/2013/03/13/cardinals-fail-to-elect-pope-after-three-ballots/