VATICAN CITY — Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney yesterday, signaling that cardinals failed to elect a new pope in their first vote following Pope Francis’s death on April 21.

The 133 cardinals — the largest and most diverse group in conclave history — remain divided, with no clear frontrunner to lead the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion followers. The cardinals will reconvene today to continue voting in secrecy until one candidate reaches the required two-thirds majority.

Amid global tensions and internal Church divisions, the next pontiff will inherit mounting challenges — from diplomatic pressures to addressing clergy abuse scandals and declining attendance in the West.