Cardinals convene for 2nd day of conclave as Vatican prepares to choose a pope

 Cardinals attend the religious mass Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Vatican City, on March 12. The Catholic Church's 115 cardinal electors are taking part in the mass ahead of entering the conclave for a papal election that observers say has no clear favorite.

 All eyes are glued to the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, as the cardinals take part in the second day of the secretive conclave to elect a new pope.

The 115 voting eligible church leaders filed into the chapel chamber, renowned for its ceiling fresco painted by Renaissance master Michelangelo, at 9:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. ET).

They will have four opportunities to vote, twice early in the day and twice later.

A two-thirds majority is required to confirm a new pontiff to step into the shoes left empty by the historic resignation of Benedict XVI at the end of last month.

Whoever it may be will take on the leadership of a church that has been rocked by child sex abuse scandals and corruption claims in recent years.

White or black smoke?

If a pope had been elected in the first vote of the day, white smoke would have been expected at about 5:30 a.m. ET but there has been no sign of any smoke yet.

If the first vote does not produce a new pontiff, no smoke will appear from the roof of the Sistine Chapel. The cardinals will then vote again.

If the second vote also produces no result, black smoke will appear about 7 a.m. ET.

The smoke comes from two furnaces set up in the Sistine Chapel especially for the vote. Chemicals are added to make the color of the smoke more obvious.

If a pope has been elected, the cardinals burn the ballots immediately. If not, the cardinals hold on to them and proceed to a second round of voting.

They burn the ballots from both rounds together after the second round.

In the past, discerning the color has been difficult at times, as it has appeared gray. But there is a second, unmistakable sign: If the smoke is indeed white, the Vatican church bells ring to celebrate the choice.

The wait for the announcement of a new Church leader should not be too long. The longest papal conclave in the past century took just five days.