Vatican conclave | Third vote inconclusive

Cardinals in secret conclave failed twice to elect a new pope this morning, as black smoke over the Sistine Chapel showed ballots on the first full day of voting were inconclusive.

After an inconclusive first vote on Tuesday night, the 115 cardinal electors should hold another two ballots later on Wednesday after praying for inspiration from God for a choice that can lead the Roman Catholic Church out of crisis.

Having spent the night closeted in a nearby guesthouse, the cardinals attended Mass in the Pauline Chapel in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace and returned to the Sistine Chapel to hold the two morning ballots.

When a pope is elected, white smoke will emerge from the chapel and the bells of St Peter's will peal.

Cardinals have been meeting for a second day to choose a successor to Pope Benedict, who resigned last month.

The 115 electors are shut off in the Sistine Chapel and a nearby residence until two-thirds agree on a leader for the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.

A further two votes will be held on Wednesday afternoon.

The cardinals will vote four times daily until a single candidate garners a two-thirds majority.

A successful vote would immediately be followed by white smoke and, soon afterwards, the Latin announcement "Habemus Papam" - we have a Pope.

Before the conclave began there was no clear frontrunner to replace Benedict XVI.

The 85-year-old stepped down last month, saying he was no longer strong enough to lead the Church, which is beset by problems ranging from a worldwide scandal over child sex abuse to allegations of corruption at the Vatican Bank.

'Perfectly normal'

Voting takes place in silence, with no formal debate, until a decision is reached. If that does not happen after three days, there may be a pause for prayer and informal discussion for a maximum of one day.

Crowds waiting for a result once again braved rainy conditions in St Peter's Square to watch out for smoke issuing from the chimney.

After lunch, the cardinals will return to the Sistine Chapel to resume their deliberations.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said it was "perfectly normal" for there to be no result at this stage of the conclave, and not a sign of division among the cardinals.

He said he had been "surprised" by the number of people who turned out in St Peter's Square to watch the first smoke on Tuesday night, and said the crowds would surely grow as suspense mounted.

"We are living a beautiful and intense moment," Fr Lombardi said.

He added that Benedict - now Pope emeritus - was "doing well" and following the ceremony "with great interest".

The secrecy of the conclave means that the results of the inconclusive rounds are not made public.

But there could come a point after several days when the cardinals share a fear that indecision could be interpreted by the outside world as evidence of profound division, he adds.

In 2005 it took four votes for Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - the future Benedict XVI - to be elected Pope.

But he was a clear favourite before the conclave began, and the long illness of his predecessor, John Paul II, meant cardinals had plenty of time to prepare and consider who they wanted to lead the Church.

This time, speculation has focused on three contenders: Angelo Scola of Italy, Brazilian Odilo Scherer and Marc Ouellet of Canada.

But some analysts argue that Benedict's surprise abdication - the first by a Pope in six centuries - could be followed by an equally unusual outcome, with an outsider emerging as a compromise candidate.