The longest conclave since the 20th century began took 14 rounds of balloting across five days, ending with the election of Pius XI in 1922. The shortest was the conclave that elected Pius XII in 1939, which took three ballots in two days.

This selection comes after two days of conclave in the Sistine Chapel, tying the modern record for the fastest selection of a pope.

Voting in the morning was inconclusive. The conclave will reconvene in the afternoon, with two more votes expected on Thursday, unless a pontiff is chosen in the first round after lunch.

Catholic cardinals are returning to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday for a second day of voting to try and elect a new pope . The 133 cardinals are expected to vote again in the morning after spending the night sequestered at the Vatican residences.

Cardinals return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday to resume voting for a new pope after the first conclave ballot failed to find a winner, sending billowing black smoke through the chapel chimney. Some of the 133 voting cardinals had said they expected a short conclave to replace Pope Francis.