Vatican City, 8 May 2025 – Black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday evening, signalling that the first vote of the papal conclave has not yielded a new pope.
The outcome means the 133 cardinal electors gathered in the secretive papal conclave were unable to reach the two-thirds majority required to select a successor to Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
Francis led the Catholic Church for 12 years and had been a transformative, and at times divisive, figure within the Vatican and beyond.
The first vote came later than many anticipated. It was three hours and 17 minutes after the traditional extra omnes order was given for all but the cardinal electors to leave the chapel. This delay sparked speculation over procedural discussions or potential disagreements in the early stage of the process.
The cardinals will now continue their deliberations, casting up to four ballots a day. There will be two in the morning and two in the afternoon, until a pontiff is chosen. White smoke from the chimney will announce to the world that a decision has been made. Then the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion followers will have a new spiritual leader.
Recent conclaves have concluded quickly. Both Pope Francis in 2013 and his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, were elected within two days. However, Vatican observers caution that while speed is possible, the process is designed to allow time for careful reflection and consensus.
Until white smoke rises, the world continues to wait, eyes on the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel.
