VATICAN CITY - Black smoke from the roof of the Sistine Chapel signalled that cardinals failed to elect a new pope in the first ballot of their secret conclave Monday.
Some 20,000 people watching from Saint Peter's Square initially broke into ecstatic applause, thinking the election had been successful because the first puffs of smoke appeared white, before the narrow chimney atop the chapel began billowing black fumes.
"It's white, it's white!" many shouted at first, as an aerial view of the crowd sparkled with the flashes of hundreds of cameras capturing the historic sight of the first round in an election to find the next leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics.
"It seemed white, so we all ran forward toward St Peter's hoping to see the new pope," said Nino Trifaro. "Then we realised" it was black, said the 70-year-old Italian. "It's an unforgettable moment."
The Vatican plans to accompany a successful election -- and the white smoke that will signal it -- with the tolling of St Peter's bell.
Frederique Koukimouka, from the Congolese capital Brazzaville, expressed relief that the election did not occur on the first ballot.
"It would not have been a good sign had it been white. You need time to consult, for dialogue. It is the life of the Church and the world that is at stake."
Although the cardinals had not said whether they would hold a ballot on Monday, pilgrims, tourists and Romans gathered hoping to see the first smoke emerge from the copper chimney specially installed on the roof of Saint Peter's Sistine Chapel.
Before the vote Monday, the cardinals solemnly processed into the chapel, where they first invoked the Holy Spirit to guide them in their deliberations before swearing to maintain total secrecy and not to canvass for votes.
Then, after the master of liturgical celebrations, Piero Marini, ordered "everyone out" Latin ("Extra omnes"), the 115 cardinal electors heard a meditation by Czech Cardinal Tomas Spidlik before getting down to the first ballot.
04/18/2005 18:30 GMT