The cardinals, who broke for lunch and will reconvene this afternoon, are expected to continue casting ballots at the Vatican until one among them receives at least two-thirds of the vote. The release of white smoke, or fumata bianca in Italian, will signify that they've elected a pope, as will the ringing of the bells of St. Peter's Basilica.

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.

The College of Cardinals began meeting Wednesday to vote in a papal conclave -- a secret ballot where two-thirds majority is required for the election of a new pontiff. After each round of submissions,