Inside the Conclave - how the votes went down and how Pope Leo didn't win Round 1

What transpired within the sealed confines of the Sistine Chapel offers fascinating insights into papal politics. According to sources close to the conclave, Cardinal Parolin initially led the voting through Thursday lunchtime, accumulating between forty-five and fifty-five votes - a substantial showing but still far from the eighty-nine votes required for the necessary two-thirds majority.

Cardinal Prevost trailed behind with thirty-four to forty-four votes during these early ballots. However, as Parolin struggled to expand his support through the first three rounds, the Italian cardinal made a pivotal decision that would reshape the entire election. He withdrew from the race and threw his endorsement behind Prevost, according to sources.

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