Cardinals fail to elect pope in first vote as black smoke appeared from chimney 

Cardinals of the Catholic Church have failed to elect a new pope on their first day in the Vatican conclave.

Black smoke rising from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel indicated that their ballot had been inconclusive.

The 115 cardinal-electors will vote four times daily until two-thirds can agree on a single candidate.

The election was prompted by the surprise abdication of Benedict XVI.

There is no clear frontrunner to take over from him as head of the Church.

The vote was the first held by the cardinals since they entered the conclave on Tuesday afternoon, and was not expected to produce a positive result.

Crowds who had braved rain and storms to watch the start of the conclave on big screens in St Peter's Square cheered as the black smoke appeared.

The electors will now return to their hotel for the night and go back to the chapel on Wednesday morning to resume voting.

White smoke from the chimney will indicate that a new pope has been chosen.

BBC NEWS