Papal Conclave summary: vote for new Pope Day 1 | No decision from Vatican smoke signal
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Papal Conclave Day 1: as it happened
First day of conclave ends with no pope elected
With black smoke rising earlier, the first day of the conclave has come to a close—just as expected, without the election of a new pope.
Voting will resume tomorrow, Thursday, May 8, with two ballots in the European morning. If no white smoke appears, two additional votes will follow in the afternoon.
Should the 89-vote threshold still not be reached, the conclave will continue into Friday.
Black smoke rises – no pope yet
Fumata nera! Black smoke has appeared over the Sistine Chapel, signaling that no candidate has secured the required 89 votes for election. For now, the Church remains without a new pope. Voting will resume tomorrow.
Why is the smoke delayed? Inside the pace of conclave voting
The delay in the expected smoke signal may simply come down to the time-consuming nature of the voting process. Each of the 133 cardinal electors must stand up, one by one, and cast their vote into the urn placed at one end of the Sistine Chapel.
If each cardinal takes about a minute to complete the ritual, the voting alone could stretch over two hours—before even factoring in the time needed to count and verify the ballots. Complicating matters further, 108 of the 133 electors were appointed by Pope Francis and are casting votes in a conclave for the first time.
So far, the cardinals have been behind closed doors for over three hours.
Why is the pope called the ‘pontiff’?
While we wait for the smoke signal, here’s a papal curiosity: the pope is often referred to as the pontiff, a term that comes from the Latin word pontifex, derived from pons (bridge) and facere (to make or build).
In essence, the pontiff is seen as a “bridge-builder” between humanity and God—a figure who connects the spiritual and earthly realms.
What happens if no pope is elected on the first day?
If no decision is reached on day one, the conclave continues with up to four votes per day—two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Smoke signals are typically expected around 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time (6:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. PT).
The process will continue until one candidate receives at least two-thirds of the vote—89 out of 133 cardinal electors. When that threshold is reached, white smoke will rise above the Sistine Chapel, signaling to the world that a new pope has been chosen.
How does the smoke signal work?
After each inconclusive vote, the ballots are burned with a chemical mixture of potassium, anthracene, and sulfur to produce black smoke—signaling to the world that no pope has been elected.
When a new pope is chosen, a different combination is used to create white smoke, the traditional signal that “Habemus Papam”—we have a pope. Soon after, the newly elected pontiff is introduced to the public from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
What majority is needed to elect a new pope?
While the voting process may seem straightforward, it includes specific rules. The conclave is a closed-door gathering limited to cardinals under the age of 80—all of them male and Catholic. A new pope is elected once one candidate receives a two-thirds majority. In this conclave, that means at least 89 votes.
If no consensus is reached, voting continues—four rounds per day—until the required majority is achieved. The two-thirds rule remains in effect unless the conclave reaches a 34th vote. At that point, the process changes: only the two most-voted candidates from the previous round are considered, and the election proceeds by simple majority.
Swiss Guard stands watch as cardinals take oath of secrecy
As the cardinal electors take their solemn oath of secrecy inside the Vatican, the Pontifical Swiss Guard is stationed at key entrances, safeguarding the most important buildings during the conclave.
Good weather marks the start of the conclave
Clear skies and sunshine over the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica are providing a fitting backdrop as the cardinals process into the Sistine Chapel. The atmosphere in St. Peter’s Square is growing ever more expectant, with several thousand journalists mingling with Jubilee 2025 pilgrims, tourists, and onlookers waiting for the first smoke signal.
Conclave begins: Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel
The 133 cardinal electors are now making their way to the Sistine Chapel, dressed in their traditional red and white vestments. The result of the first vote is expected around 7:00 p.m. local time (1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT), when smoke will rise from the chapel chimney.
If it’s white, the Church will have a new pope. If it’s black, no agreement has been reached, and voting will resume tomorrow.
Only one conclave has ever elected a pope on the first day: Pius XII in 1939
In the modern history of the Church, there has only been one instance of a white smoke signal—fumata bianca—rising on the first day of a conclave. That occurred on March 2, 1939, when Italian Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli was elected Pope Pius XII in the third round of voting, all held on the opening day.
By contrast, in the most recent conclave in 2013 that elected Pope Francis, only one vote was held on the first day, resulting in a black smoke signal (fumata nera) around 8:00 p.m. local time. Both the 2005 conclave that elected Benedict XVI and the 2013 conclave concluded the following day—within 24 hours. In 1978, it took eight rounds of voting over three days to elect Pope John Paul II.
This time, the cardinals will vote twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon each day. If no candidate reaches the required two-thirds majority after three days, voting will pause for up to one day. During this break, electors will pray, reflect, and engage in free discussion, with a brief spiritual exhortation from the cardinal dean of the order of deacons.
Voting will then resume. If seven more rounds fail to produce a pope, another pause will follow, led by the senior cardinal priest. A second block of seven ballots will begin. If that too proves fruitless, a final pause and address will be given by the cardinal bishop with seniority before the last round of up to seven votes takes place.
Cardinals break for lunch before heading into Sistine Chapel
After celebrating the Pro Eligendo Pontifice Mass this morning, the 133 cardinal electors are now sharing lunch before officially entering the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave to elect Pope Francis’s successor.
The Mass, held in St. Peter’s Basilica and presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, drew around 5,000 faithful. In his homily, Re urged the Church to preserve unity at a time of global division.
Following the Eucharist, the cardinal electors—all under the age of 80—returned to Casa Santa Marta, their residence for the duration of the conclave. There, they are gathering for lunch—their first shared meal as electors—which could serve as an opportunity for informal conversations ahead of the formal seclusion.
From this point on, the cardinals are forbidden from leaving Vatican territory or communicating with the outside world until a new pope is chosen.
Who could be the next pope? Frontrunners and dark horses to succeed Francis, according to the latest odds
Speculation is mounting over who will succeed Pope Francis. Among the frontrunners is Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State. His deep diplomatic experience and central role in the Church’s governance give him the profile of a statesman—moderate, pragmatic, and skilled in navigating a polarized global landscape.
Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, brings a strong pastoral identity rooted in social justice. Known for his ties to the Sant’Egidio Community and for mediating in international conflicts, Zuppi’s emphasis on the poor and marginalized appeals to those seeking a Church deeply engaged with today’s humanitarian challenges.
From the Middle East, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the current Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, offers a unique perspective from the heart of the Holy Land. His fluency in interreligious dialogue and deep understanding of regional tensions make him a compelling voice in a divided world.
Beyond Italy, the global nature of the Church is reflected in Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the former Archbishop of Manila and current Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. Charismatic and culturally fluent, Tagle represents a bridge between tradition and modernity—and signals the growing influence of Asian Catholicism.
Peter Erdő, Archbishop of Budapest, brings theological rigor and a strong ecumenical background. His leadership at major international events and his commitment to dialogue among Christian denominations give him both intellectual and diplomatic appeal.
Finally, Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, former head of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, stands out as a powerful advocate for social justice and environmental responsibility. A papacy led by Turkson would mark a historic milestone—the first African pope in over a millennium. However, his age may work against him in a conclave possibly leaning toward younger candidates.
Cardinal Raymond Burke, 76, is a highly conservative cleric who clashed repeatedly with Pope Francis over most of the main issues facing the Catholic church. Burke, a Wisconsin native, has taken a consistently hard line against softening the church’s policy towards LGBTQ people, divorce, or the role of women in the church.
Burke is also a supporter of Trump. In 2016, when Pope Francis was criticising the president’s plans to build a wall on the southern border with Mexico, Burke offered his support for the Republican, saying he was “defending the values of the church”.
And now it seems Trump, serving his second term as President, is keen to see Burke installed in the Vatican as the new Pope.
A look at the Papal contenders
Pius, Gregory, John, Benedict: The most popular papal names in history
The tradition of replacing a pope’s birth name with a papal name is a centuries-old custom deeply rooted in Church history. It traces back to the origins of Christianity, when Jesus renamed the apostle Simon as Peter—considered the first pope.
As Vatican News explains, once the cardinal electors have reached a valid decision in conclave, the newly chosen bishop of Rome is asked two questions for the first time as pope: “Acceptasne electionem de te canonice factam in Summum Pontificem?” (“Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?”), followed by “Quo nomine vis vocari?”(“By what name shall you be called?”).
If the new pope accepts, the faithful then hear the protodeacon deliver the famous Latin announcement:
“Nuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus papam! Eminentissimum et reverendissimum dominum…, qui sibi imposuit nomen…”
(“I bring you great joy: we have a pope! The most eminent and most reverend lord..., who has taken the name…”).
Throughout history, the most commonly chosen papal names have included Pius, Gregory, John, Benedict, Innocent, Leo, and Clement.
The legend of Pope Joan: A woman on the papal throne?
Though there are no historical records of a woman ever serving as pope, a persistent legend tells the story of Pope Joan—a woman who allegedly disguised herself as a man and rose through the ranks of the Catholic Church to become the Bishop of Rome.
The tale is usually set between the years 855 and 857, and while versions vary, they agree on key details: Joan was born in Germany and lived much of her life in Rome, where she taught and presented herself as a man. Her intellect and learning, the story goes, were so exceptional that she was eventually elected pope, succeeding Leo IV.
Everything surrounding the Conclave is filled with secrecy, peculiarities, and rules rooted in centuries-old tradition that is nearly impossible to break.
A clear example is the inability of a woman to become the Pope of Rome.
Smoke signals: When to expect the fumate as the cardinals vote
The first smoke signal is expected to rise between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. local time (12:00–1:00 p.m. ET / 9:00–10:00 a.m. PT). From the second day onward, cardinals will typically hold four votes per day—two in the morning, two in the afternoon.
If no consensus is reached within three days, the process pauses for a day of reflection.
During the morning session, if no pope is elected in the first round, there is no smoke; a second vote follows shortly after. If that round also fails to produce a result, smoke is expected around 1:00 p.m. local time (7:00 a.m. ET / 4:00 a.m. PT). The same applies to the afternoon session: no smoke after the first vote unless there’s a result in the second, which would likely trigger a fumata between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. local time (11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. ET / 8:00–10:00 a.m. PT).
Pope Francis was elected in just over a day, after five rounds of voting. His predecessor, Benedict XVI, was chosen even faster—just four votes in a single day.
Compared to conclaves a century ago, today’s process involves far more cardinals. While around 60 electors participated back then, this conclave includes 133. The voting rhythm has also intensified: nowadays, there are typically four ballots a day—two in the morning, two in the afternoon. A century ago, just two daily votes were the norm.
The longest conclave of the past 150 years was in 1922, when Pope Pius XI was elected. That process lasted five days and required 14 rounds of voting. The 53 cardinals entered deeply divided into two irreconcilable factions. It was only when they recognized the deadlock that they settled on a compromise candidate: the Archbishop of Milan, Achille Ratti.
No roof, bread and water: How desperation shaped the papal conclave
Still the cardinals refused to budge, and the stalemate dragged on. By the summer of 1270, the city of Viterbo took even more drastic action. The roof of the cardinals’ bedrooms and the deliberation hall was removed—“so the Holy Spirit may better enlighten you”—and their diet was cut to just bread and water.
Around that time, the Cardinal of Ostia renounced his voting rights and left Viterbo seriously ill, reducing the number of electors to 18. The harsh conditions soon took a toll: Stefan Vancza, the first Hungarian cardinal in history, and papal vice-chancellor Giordano dei Conti both fell ill and died. Only 16 cardinals remained.
After a year under these conditions—and fearing none of them might survive—the remaining electors agreed to delegate the decision. Each faction chose three representatives, forming a group of six tasked with selecting a candidate, with the approval of the other ten.
On September 1, 1271, they proposed a name as unexpected as the entire process: Teobaldo Bisconti, who wasn’t even a cardinal, nor present at the conclave. He was in Acre, fighting in the Ninth Crusade. On March 27, 1272, he was crowned pope in St. Peter’s Basilica, taking the name Gregory X.
Cum clave: How a medieval deadlock gave birth to the conclave
The origins of the papal conclave date back to November 29, 1268, when 19 cardinals met daily in the cathedral of Viterbo to elect a new pope—yet neither faction would give way. The deadlock dragged on, with the two-thirds majority proving impossible to reach under mounting external pressure.
At one point, the superior general of the Servite Order traveled to Viterbo to demand a resolution—but bolted in panic when the cardinals jokingly proposed electing him pope so they could all go home.
A year into the stalemate, voting became sporadic and the process ground to a halt. The city’s magistrate and prefect feared the impasse could end in chaos. Hosting the cardinals and their entourages was bankrupting Viterbo. Taxes were raised, and the local population threatened revolt.
Fed up, city leaders ordered the cardinals to be locked inside the Papal Palace—cum clave, or “with a key.” Thus, the word “conclave” was born.
To cut costs even further, the cardinals’ meals were also reduced to the bare minimum.
Age and experience: A mix of youth and wisdom among the cardinal electors
The average age of the 134 cardinal electors is 72, with a notable mix of younger voices and seasoned experience shaping the future of the Catholic Church.
The youngest cardinal is 45-year-old Mikola Bychok of Ukraine, the eparchial bishop of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne for Ukrainian Catholics. At the other end of the spectrum is Spain’s Carlos Osoro Sierra, the oldest elector at 79. He will turn 80 on May 16, just days after the conclave begins.
This blend of youth and experience is seen as vital to the Church’s future — offering both fresh perspective and deep institutional knowledge.
Giovanni Maria Vian predicts a long Conclave but believes Pope Francis’s successor will be European: “If I were a cardinal, I would vote for Arborelius.”
Cardinal electors by continent: Europe still leads, but diversity grows
Europe remains the most represented continent in the 2025 conclave, with 52 of the 134 cardinal electors. The Americas follow with 37 — including 16 from North America, 4 from Central America, and 17 from South America.
Asia is represented by 23 cardinals, Africa by 18, and Oceania by 4. This geographic distribution reflects a growing global balance, even as Europe continues to carry significant weight in the election of the new Pope.
Breakdown of cardinal electors:
Europe: 52
Americas: 37
Asia: 23
Africa: 18
Oceania: 4
Total: 134
Who are the cardinals in the conclave, and where do they come from?
The conclave will be one of the most diverse and global in the history of the Catholic Church.
A total of 134 cardinal electors — following the resignation of Antonio Cañizares Llovera — will participate, representing 71 different countries. This reflects the universal character of the Church and its reach across every corner of the globe.
The Sistine Chapel, the historic setting for this momentous event, will welcome cardinals from every continent — including nations that have historically had little presence in the College of Cardinals.
Here's an article giving you more details on the process and rules.
Electing Pope Francis’ successor begins
The conclave to choose the successor to the late Pope Francis begins today, starting with a Mass that will bring together the 133 cardinal electors before they are locked inside the Sistine Chapel to begin voting.
The day opens with the Pro Eligendo Pontifice Mass at 10:00 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. ET / 1:00 a.m. PT) in St. Peter’s Basilica, presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re.
In the afternoon, the 133 cardinals under age 80 — and therefore eligible to vote — will gather at 4:15 p.m. local time (10:15 a.m. ET / 7:15 a.m. PT) in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace.
They will then process into the Sistine Chapel while chanting the litany and the Veni Creator hymn, invoking the Holy Spirit. Their formal enclosure is expected to begin about 15 minutes later.
Papal Conclave: welcome
Today, Wednesday, May 7, marks the start of the Conclave to elect the new Pope.
The cardinals have gathered in the Vatican, ready to meet in the Sistine Chapel. The world now waits for the moment when white smoke rises. Here at AS USA, we’re bringing you all the news and latest updates on the election of the new Pontiff.