Rome.- Around 11,000 people gathered this Thursday in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican and its surroundings to see the second smoke of the conclave, which came out black, so a new pope has still not been elected, and it is expected that many more will gather again in the place for the afternoon smoke.
According to the Rome Police Headquarters, around 10,000 people gathered in the square, awaiting the chimney from which the black smoke came from the Sistine Chapel, where the 133 cardinal electors are locked up to elect the successor of the late Pope Francis.
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In addition, around 1,000 people arrived in the adjacent streets of the Vatican, where a large security operation has been deployed, including agents and controls, on the occasion of the conclave.
In the vicinity of the Vatican, crowds of faithful and tourists were seen walking during the morning, approaching St. Peter's, some as part of their sightseeing visits, others curious, and also religious people who want to follow the evolution of the conclave firsthand.
More than 30,000 people, according to the police, and about 50,000, according to Vatican media, gathered this Wednesday in St. Peter's Square to see the first smoke in a long wait, as it took more than three hours to come out.