Black smoke billowed over the Vatican on Wednesday to signal that no candidate received the required two-thirds majority of cardinal electors to become the next pope. The big picture: White smoke is probably not far off.

The chimney smoke from the Sistine Chapel is the most watched signal during conclave, which started on May 7. Only two colors matter: black and white. Each has a clear message for crowds in St. Peter’s Square as well as for viewers around the world on television,