The papal conclave has commenced, with cardinals gathering in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope. Black smoke, signaling an unsuccessful vote, emerged from the chimney on the first day, disappointing the thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square. The delay in the smoke's appearance and the length of the first voting session were notable. The crowd, including pilgrims and visitors, expressed anticipation and hope for a new pontiff, while the cardinals continued their deliberations.
13 days ago
Black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney on May 7, 2025, at 9:00 PM Rome time, signaling the failure of the first ballot to elect a new pope 11. The smoke appeared again on May 8 at 11:51 AM, after the morning session, indicating that three rounds of voting had been unsuccessful 1 6. This followed two ballots during the morning session on the second day 5. The first smoke on May 7 was notably delayed, appearing two hours later than anticipated 4.
Thousands of pilgrims, tourists, and faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square to witness the smoke signals 1 2 9. Many, like Elizabeth Whelan from Canada, expressed trust in the process, hoping for the right decision 1. American visitors, such as Chuck and Annette Walker from Los Angeles, traveled specifically for the conclave, emphasizing the sense of community within the Church 2. Others, like Lucia Pérez from Argentina, hoped for a pope who would continue Pope Francis's openness to outsiders and the marginalized 1. Some expressed a desire for a leader who could unite a troubled world 6 5.
The unusually long delay in the appearance of the first black smoke on May 7 prompted various hypotheses 4. These included a malfunction of the stove, an issue involving a cardinal elector, or an issue during the ballot count 4. Ultimately, the delay was attributed to a lengthy pre-vote sermon and the increased number of cardinals participating in the process 4.
The period of sede vacante, the time when the Holy See is vacant, is a unique time for the Catholic Church 8. As Michael Sean Winters notes, Catholicism "makes no sense without a pope," highlighting the papacy as a guarantor of the Church's catholicity and a point of unity 8. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re emphasized that fostering communion is a key task of the Pope 8. During this time, the absence of the Pope in the Eucharistic prayer is keenly felt 8.
This headline indicates that the initial ballots of a papal conclave have not resulted in the election of a new Pope. According to the established procedures of the Catholic Church, specifically outlined in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, the election of a Pope requires a two-thirds majority vote. When the cardinals fail to reach this majority in a ballot, they signal this outcome to the public by burning the ballots and adding a chemical compound to produce black smoke, which is released through a chimney visible to the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square . This process continues until a candidate receives the necessary two-thirds majority, at which point white smoke is released to announce the election of a new Pope.