The crowds had to be patient as it took longer than expected for the smoke to appear, more than three hours after the start of the conclave. This was an hour more than it took for smoke to be seen after the first vote in the 2013 conclave that picked the late Pope Francis.

The 133 cardinal electors, who are all aged under 80, will spend the night secluded in one of two Vatican guesthouses — where they can continue their deliberations in a more informal setting before returning to the chapel on Thursday morning.

Their only communication with the outside world will be the smoke from the chimney as they burn their completed ballot papers mixed with special chemicals — black when a voting session ends with no result, white when a pontiff is elected.

While some have called for continuity with Francis’ vision of greater openness and reform, others have said they want to turn the clock back and embrace old traditions. Many have indicated they want a more predictable, measured pontificate.