After the men who will choose the next pope closed on Wednesday in the Sistine Chapel without a cell phone, the only thing left was to wait to send a signal to the outside world. Smoke.

Highly secret voting began within what may be one of the safest in the world of the world in the early evening, and 133 Cardinals in charge of deciding who will succeed Pope Francis Manual writing of candidate names on the ballot cards, trying to cover up their manuscript.

Outside of St. Peter’s Square, thousands of believers, curious and rest, gathered to wait for the news of whether the cardinals were able to choose the Pope’s heir. The word arrived at 9pm, in the form of a black smoke that pierced the chimney installed last week on the roof of the chapel.

If the smoke was white, it would mean that the cardinals chose the first new pope in about ten years in just one round of voting, a feat that has not been seen for centuries.

But black smoke, created when the Cardinal leaves are burned into the cast iron stove, means that they will have to try again.

“We are cold, we are hungry, we are thirsty, but we still cannot move,” said Reverend Peter Mangum, 61, a priest in Jesus’ Church, a good shepherd in Monroe, La. He and three other priests were in the square about seven o’clock, and it was the fourth time of Father Magnum.

He stood in the same place for the elections of John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francisco, and he did not want to move until he knew the news on Wednesday. “We had to make sure the smoke was black,” he said.

At a time when news travels around the world immediately, patience waiting for smoke in St. Peter’s Square is Ritual dating from the 19th century.

For some anxiety it was intense. “I think there is more nervousness among people outside than among the Cardinals themselves,” said Tania Radesca, who arrived at Square at 1pm

Mrs. Radesca, who is from Venezuela, voluntarily helped during the anniversary, a year of pilgrimage that happens every 25 years, and Rome arrived just over a month ago. She was on St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday and caught his last glance at Pope Francis.

He died a day later.

Those who arrived early to achieve places on the barricades closest to the front of St. Peter’s Basilica, they came from their home countries with flags along the barrier and befriended each other as they settled. Others camped on yoga rugs or a picnic blanket.

Many traveled a long way, specifically because of the conclave. Rodrigo Pinto, 43, a retired Karate instructor, flew from Guatemala 23 hours, landed on Tuesday afternoon and headed straight to St. Peter Square on Wednesday so he could wait for the first sign of smoke.

Mr. Pinto, who wore a rosary, he said, “I want to be a part of something I have always seen on TV, in documentaries, on the internet.” After stopping in the rain in the morning and under the hot sun afternoon, he said, “Three hours ago, it was like hell. Sorry, St. Peter.”

In the post office within the square, Jennifer Raulli, 54, wrote postcards to her children at colleges in the United States. She was in Rome on vacation with one of her daughters, who had just graduated from Texas Christian University, and got tickets to see Pope Francis as he says Mass on Wednesday. Instead, they arrived at the square to wait for the smoke that could announce the man who replaced him.

“It will pass a long couple of hours, but I wouldn’t miss it,” said Mrs. Raulli, who traveled from Pasadena, California. Mrs. Raulli, who was raised by the Presbyterian and turned into Catholicism when she was 37, said she would prefer more “more conservative” because she would like to be “less political” and close “and close.”

The waiting day began at 10 o’clock when Giovanni Battista Re, Spry, a 91-year-old Cardinal Faculty Dean, presided over Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and begged the voting cardinals to choose “Pope who knows how to best awaken the advice of all, and moral and spiritual energy in today’s society.”

While the cardinals gave each other a sign of peace during the service, the cardinal hugged Cardinal Pietro Paralin, The Vatican Secretary of State under Francis and considered the leading candidate to succeed him. The microphone was captured by Cardinal who wanted Cardinal Parolin’s best wishes.

Cardinal Matteo ZuppiAnother potential candidate who appeared with a fresh hairstyle, warmly demolished the hands of his peers. Cardinal Jean-Marc AveineArchbishop Marseille, and also considered to be the Pope’s candidate, stopped for prayer in front of a relic that contains the remains Pope John XXIII – A hero to many liberal Catholics for his efforts to modernize the Church.

After lunch at Casa Santa Marta, a cottage in the Vatican, where voters will remain throughout the conclave, the cardinals walked to the Sistine Chapel. As they headed to the chapel, they sang the litany of the saints, while the choir was hoarse names of the saints. The cardinals responded with “Ora Pro Nobis” or “Pray for us.” Outside in the square, many looking at large video screens that came across the basilica and echoed the Cardinal’s singing.

Inside the chapel of Sistine, the names for the names for the cardinals were placed on the long tables where they would vote. Francis has appointed many more cardinals than his two predecessors, some from countries away from the VaticanAnd many papal voters – and potential pope – do not know each other.

Around 5:45 pm, Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, a master of pontific liturgical celebrations, announced “Extra Omnes”, a Latin phrase meaning “Everyone outside.” The giant wooden door was closed, leaving 133 voters cardinals – those under the age of 80 who can vote on a secret ballot – locked.

Cardinals will not be allowed to leave the Vatican until two -thirds of the majority agree with the next pope. The phones, the Internet, the television and any contact outside the Vatican walls are forbidden, adapted to be imposed to discourage the procedure from the withdrawal.

Some veterans voters believed that the vote would be prolonged. “Bring a book“Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan New York said he advised other cardinals, interviewing Tuesday.

The conclave began 16 days after Francis’ death 21. April.

The significance of the moment was not lost on those who had little knowledge of Catholicism.

Yuichiro Yamakoshi, 41, a Japanese tourist traveling with his wife, said that after visiting the Vatican Museum and passing through the door of four main basilica, which was usually open only during the anniversary, he began to understand the strength and influence of faith. Although the couple came to St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday with a guide, they returned on Wednesday morning to a commemorative photo that marked the conclave.

As the black smoke sprayed into the sky, everything had to wait another day.

Of all the people in Rome to start the papal conclave on Wednesday, pilgrims from St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Houston may have had the worst stories. 47 The believers who traveled with their priest – also accidentally called Francis – scheduled a meeting with Pope Francis on Wednesday this week. Instead, they were in St. Peter’s Square during the last Mass before the conclave began later during the day.

One of the groups, George Smith, 69, said, “It’s a blessing for us.”

As a river of people who flowed from the square, a group of Romans who were convinced that smoke would be white hand and hug. “See you tomorrow!” They said.

Reporting contributed Emma Bubola,, Elisabetta Zaledo,, Jason Horowitz,, Elizabeth Dias,, Matthew Mpoke Bigg,, Bernhard Warner and Josephine de la Bruyère.