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Black smoke from the roof of the Sistine Chapel at 11:40 a.m. local time signalled that the conclave will continue as 115 cardinals meet to choose the next pope of the Roman Catholic church.
Maclean’s correspondent Brian Bethune is in Rome and has been filing updates.
To be named pope, one individual requires the support of two-thirds of the vote. Our guide to the rules of the conclave is here.
Last night on the late shift, Maclean’s blogger Aaron Hutchins noted those who were treating the ceremony like something of a sporting event.
