Black smoke was seen wafting from a chimney on Thursday above the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the 133 Catholic cardinal electors tasked with choosing a new pope to succeed Pope Francis had voted inconclusively for a third time.

Eighteen days after Pope Francis last appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, his successor -- the 267th pope -- emerged.

Black smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, meaning that cardinals did not elect a new pope on the first day of the conclave.