Black smoke emerges at Vatican as conclave fails to elect pope on first vote

Voting will resume on Thursday, and up to four rounds of voting can take place each day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon

Black smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel this evening. Picture: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

The wait for a new pope goes on after black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel following the first secret vote as the papal conclave began.

A group of 133 cardinal electors began their behind-closed-doors meeting on Wednesday afternoon.