Rome conclave: Cardinals fail to elect Pope in first vote

Cardinals of the Catholic Church have failed to elect a new Pope on their first day in the Vatican conclave.

Black smoke rising from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel indicated that their ballot had been inconclusive.

The 115 cardinal-electors will vote four times daily until two-thirds can agree on a single candidate.

The vote was the first held by the cardinals since they entered the conclave on Tuesday afternoon, and was not expected to produce a positive result.

Alan Little reports.