LIVE UPDATES: Second time black smoke billows from Sistine Chapel chimney
- Catholic News Agency
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Updated: 28 minutes ago
Follow here for live coverage from Catholic News Agency as the conclave unfolds: updates, insights, and key moments in the election of the 266th successor to St. Peter and 267th leader of the Catholic Church.
Crowd in St. Peter’s Square waits for next smoke signal
May 8, 2025 at 9:22 am
What are the most popular papal names?
May 8, 2025 at 07:28 am
Black smoke rises on Thursday before noon as cardinals continue search for new pope
May 8, 2025 at 03:58 am
Black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 11:51 a.m. Rome time on Thursday, signaling that the cardinals voting at the conclave have not yet elected a new pope.
A peaceful St. Peter’s Square this morning. Will it be today?
May 8, 2025 at 01:26 am
Meet the 5 cardinal electors with the most conclave experience
May 7, 2025 at 03:28 pm
With the start of the conclave May 7, there are five cardinal electors who bring a significant amount of experience to the process.
Four electors — Cardinals Peter Turkson, Philippe Barbarin, Péter Erdő, and Josip Bozanić — became members of the College of Cardinals in 2003 and have participated in two conclaves before this one.
Conclave schedule: What time does the smoke appear?
May 7, 2025 at 02:33 pm
As the conclave gets underway, all eyes turn to the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. From this simple metal tube will emerge the long-awaited white smoke that will announce the election of the new pope.
Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney Wednesday evening to the watchful eyes of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square as the first day of conclave voting concluded without a new pontiff.
Beginning Thursday, the cardinals will hold four votes each day: two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Each round of votes is followed by smoke from the chimney, which will be black if still no agreement has been reached, or white if the new pontiff has been elected.
Black smoke billows from Sistine Chapel chimney: No decision yet
May 7, 2025 at 01:01 pm
Black smoke is billowing from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the College of Cardinals has not yet elected a successor to Pope Francis.
The gathered crowd in St. Peter’s Square let out a collective sigh as the dark plume became visible. This marks the first round of voting without the required two-thirds majority needed to elect the 267th leader of the Catholic Church.
As night falls, crowds in St. Peter’s Square still wait
May 7, 2025 at 12:57 pm
Thousands wait for the first smoke
May 7, 2025 at 12:12 pm
Crowds in St. Peter’s Square await smoke from Sistine Chapel chimney
May 7, 2025 at 11:21 am
Crowds of the faithful and other observers pack St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday evening as smoke is expected to issue from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel after the first round of voting in the conclave.
The cardinals were closed in conclave earlier in the day to begin the voting process, one which will likely see several rounds of voting and end with the election of a new supreme pontiff.
‘Extra omnes’: The door of the Sistine Chapel closes
May 7, 2025 at 7:43 am
With the proclamation of “extra omnes” (“outside everyone”) on the afternoon of May 7, the thick wooden doors of the Sistine Chapel are closed and guarded at every entrance by Swiss Guards while the 133 cardinal electors began the process of choosing the new pope and leader of the universal Catholic Church.
Cardinals swear sacred oath
May 7, 2025 at 8:57 am
Inside the magnificent Sistine Chapel, beneath Michelangelo’s timeless masterpieces, 133 cardinals are currently swearing the oath by placing their hand upon the Gospels and pronouncing these binding words:
I, N.N., promise and swear that, unless I should receive a special faculty given expressly by the newly-elected pontiff or by his successors, I will observe absolute and perpetual secrecy with all who are not part of the College of Cardinal electors concerning all matters directly or indirectly related to the ballots cast and their scrutiny for the election of the supreme pontiff.
I likewise promise and swear to refrain from using any audio or video equipment capable of recording anything which takes place during the period of the election within Vatican City, and in particular anything which in any way, directly or indirectly, is related to the process of the election itself.
I declare that I take this oath fully aware that an infraction thereof will incur the penalty of automatic (‘latae sententiae’) excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.
So help me God and these Holy Gospels which I touch with my hand.
Cardinals take their places in the Sistine Chapel
May 7, 2025 at 8:43 am
The solemn silence of the Sistine Chapel now surrounds 133 cardinal electors as they begin the sacred process of selecting the 267th successor to St. Peter following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who presides over the conclave due to the ineligibility of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re and Cardinal Leonardo Sandri because of age restrictions, led the procession from the Pauline Chapel.
The carefully choreographed entrance saw cardinals proceeding in rows of two, each reverently bowing before the altar upon entering the hallowed space adorned with Michelangelo's masterpieces.
Giant screens show the opening procession of the conclave
May 7, 2025 at 8:42 am
How many days did the last 10 conclaves take?
May 7, 2025 at 05:42 am
Cardinal Re's final message before voting begins
May 7, 2025 at 03:45 am
Following the solemn “Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice” Mass that concluded earlier in St. Peter’s Basilica, the cardinals are now preparing for the conclave.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, presided over the ceremony and delivered a powerful homily calling for Church unity, describing it as “a unity that does not mean uniformity, but a firm and profound communion in diversity.”
The homily ahead of the vote for the 'pope that our time needs'
May 7, 2025 at 02:47 am
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, is currently celebrating the solemn “Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice” Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. This traditional liturgy, attended by all cardinals who will vote in the conclave, marks the final public event before they process to the Sistine Chapel this afternoon.
In his homily, Cardinal Re is reminding his fellow cardinals that they must approach their momentous task with prayer and complete self-sacrifice.
The cardinal’s homily strikes powerful notes of unity and service.
The history behind ‘habemus papam’ and the white smoke that announces a new pope
May 6, 2025 at 04:40 pm
When a new pope is elected, there are two signs that mark that historic moment: the white smoke (“fumata bianca” in Italian) erupting from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and the formula “habemus papam” pronounced by the cardinal protodeacon from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica overlooking the square of the same name.
These are the challenges identified by the cardinals ahead of the conclave
May 6, 2025 at 02:23 pm
When the cardinals gather in the Pauline Chapel and process to the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to begin the process of choosing a new pope, they call upon the assistance of the Holy Spirit as they sing the “Veni Creator Spiritus” (“Come Holy Spirit, Creator Blest”).
Many people assume the Holy Spirit directly reveals the exact person who should be the pope. If that were the case, there would be quick elections. But several conclaves over the centuries have lasted for weeks, even months — or years — while others have produced popes of questionable character.
On the other hand, there is the notion that a conclave is closer to the kind of backroom dealmaking associated with a bygone era of political machines.
Neither of these scenarios is correct.
Conclave 2025: The Holy Spirit’s role in the papal election
May 6, 2025 at 01:10 pm
When the cardinals gather in the Pauline Chapel and process to the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to begin the process of choosing a new pope, they call upon the assistance of the Holy Spirit as they sing the “Veni Creator Spiritus” (“Come Holy Spirit, Creator Blest”).
Many people assume the Holy Spirit directly reveals the exact person who should be the pope. If that were the case, there would be quick elections. But several conclaves over the centuries have lasted for weeks, even months — or years — while others have produced popes of questionable character.
On the other hand, there is the notion that a conclave is closer to the kind of backroom dealmaking associated with a bygone era of political machines.
Neither of these scenarios is correct.
Papal tailor has next pope’s cassock ‘almost ready’ in 3 different sizes
May 6, 2025 at 11:52 am
At 89 Via Borgo Pio, located a few steps from Porta Santa Anna leading to the Vatican, is Mancinelli Clergy, the iconic shop that embodies the history and tradition of ecclesiastical tailoring in Rome.
Behind a time-worn wooden counter, surrounded by tall glass cases displaying all kinds of religious articles — cassocks, scarlet caps, skullcaps, embroidered chasubles, and pectoral crosses — stands tailor Raniero Mancinelli, tasked with making the next pope’s habit.
With a measuring tape around his neck, Mancinelli welcomed ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, and shared the details of a craft he has been performing for more than six decades. “I’ve dressed John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis… and this will be the fourth,” he commented proudly.
PHOTOS: The Sistine Chapel awaits the arrival of cardinal electors to choose the next pope
May 6, 2025 at 11:00 am
The Vatican on Tuesday released photos of the Sistine Chapel prepared for the arrival of the cardinal electors who will select the next pope in the conclave set to begin on Wednesday.
The proceedings will take place in absolute secrecy, with the prelates largely sequestered from the outside world for as long as the conclave lasts until a new supreme pontiff is chosen.
The Sistine Chapel: Renaissance gem dazzles clergy and laypeople alike
May 6, 2025 at 9:32 am
The Sistine Chapel has witnessed every papal election since 1492 with only five exceptions, and it is preparing to once again host the conclave.
The 133 cardinal electors, meeting behind closed doors, will have the task of electing Pope Francis’ successor starting Wednesday, surrounded by the beauty of frescoes by Michelangelo, Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, and Domenico Ghirlandaio.
Located in the heart of the Vatican and protected by the Leonine Wall, the Sistine Chapel was built on the site of the ancient Cappella Magna. From its origins, it served not only as a place of liturgy but also as a protected space for the crucial decisions that have marked the millennia-long life of the Church.
VIDEO: Breaking Pope Francis’ seal and fisherman’s ring
May 6, 2025 at 07:39 am
Cardinals witness destruction of Pope Francis’ ring, seal
May 6, 2025 at 06:56 am
The papal fisherman’s ring and lead seal were nulled during the 12th general congregation of the College of Cardinals on Tuesday.
The ring and seal are destroyed after a pope’s death in order prevent their future misuse to seal official documents.
Vatican Media shared photos and videos of the cancelation of the ring and seal on May 6, and the X account of the Vatican Secretary of State said it was carried out that morning in the presence of the camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, and the College of Cardinals.
Cardinals call for immediate ceasefire in global conflicts ahead of conclave
May 6, 2025 at 06:24 am
The College of Cardinals gathers in General Congregation on Tuesday and issues a forceful appeal for peace, expressing “regret” that progress toward resolving conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other regions has stalled while attacks on civilians intensify.
In a statement published by the Holy See Press Office, the cardinals call for “a permanent ceasefire” and peace negotiations “without preconditions and further delays.” They also invite all faithful to “intensify their supplication to the Lord for a just and lasting peace.”
This powerful plea comes as the cardinals prepare for the upcoming conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor.
Middle Eastern Christians speak: What they want from the next pope
May 5, 2025 at 05:55 pm
As the College of Cardinals prepares to gather in the conclave, the global Church enters a moment of discernment — and of speculation. Behind closed doors, names are floated, alliances weighed, and expectations quietly shaped. Some hope for a return to an Italian pope, others call for a voice from the peripheries. Many, amid the noise, turn to prayer, trusting the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
For Christians in the Middle East, this moment carries particular significance. These ancient communities, rooted in lands marked by instability and loss, have not seen a pope from their region since the seventh century. And yet their presence endures — reduced in number but not in faith; marginalized politically, yet vital to the universal Church.
Vatican prepares to deactivate cell signals during conclave
May 5, 2025 at 02:54 pm
The Vatican Governorate is informing the city state’s residents and employees that beginning on May 7 at 3 p.m. local time, “all the transmission systems of the mobile phone telecommunications signal, present in the territory of the Vatican City State … will be deactivated.”
The measure is part of the security requirements of the conclave to elect the new pope, which takes place in private in the Sistine Chapel through secret ballots.
The signal will be restored, “with the maximum speed permitted by the technology of the mobile operators,” after the announcement of the election of the new pope from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
What name will the next pope choose?
May 5, 2025 at 01:56 pm
One of the first things billions will learn about the new pope, even before he steps onto the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square, is the name he has chosen.
After Cardinal Dominique Mamberti proclaims “Habemus papam!” he will announce the supreme pontiff’s Christian name, then his surname. Then finally, he’ll reveal his regnal name — the one that will follow the word “Pope.”
Most likely, nobody will have ever called him that before. And after it’s announced, most people will never call him anything else.
It’s the first message a new pope sends — even before he speaks.
Cardinals hold 11th general congregation ahead of conclave
May 5, 2025 at 12:24 pm
The College of Cardinals held its 11th general congregation at 5 p.m. Rome time on Monday in preparation for the May 7 conclave, the Holy See Press Office announces Monday afternoon.
Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office, says the next — and last — congregation will take place Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. Rome time.
At the Monday afternoon congregation, 170 cardinals, including 132 cardinal electors, were present. The topics discussed were ethnicism in the Church and in society, migration, wars, synod and ecclesiology of communion, and the commitment of cardinals in supporting the new pope, according to the Vatican.
“There was talk about a pastor pontiff dialoguing with different cultures. Sects in different regions of the world were also discussed,” the press office adds.
Are you ready? The conclave is near
May 5, 2025 at 10:07 am
American cardinals at the conclave 2025: Who are they?
May 5, 2025 at 8:59 am
Cardinals discuss key themes at 10th general congregation ahead of conclave
May 5, 2025 at 07:36 am
FOCUS founder calls for evangelism amid upcoming conclave: ‘The world is looking to us’
May 5, 2025 at 06:46 am
As the world focuses on the Catholic Church and the upcoming papal conclave, Curtis Martin, founder and CEO of the evangelism group FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), urged Catholics to share the Gospel with zeal.
In an interview with “EWTN News In Depth” from St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Martin spoke on the current state of evangelization in the Catholic Church as the world anticipates a new pope.
3 of the youngest cardinals in the upcoming conclave share a moment of lightheartedness
May 5, 2025 at 02:00 am
How Pope Francis shaped the College of Cardinals
May 4, 2025 at 9:11 am
On May 7, an expected 133 cardinal electors will enter the Sistine Chapel to elect the new Roman pontiff, the successor to Pope Francis, who shied away from giving red hats to the traditional archdioceses but opted to give the honor to far-flung places, many of which had never had a cardinal before.
Of the 133 cardinals with the right to vote in this conclave, 108 were created by Pope Francis and therefore will be participating in the election of a pontiff for the first time.
Outside influences: How Germany and China are trying to impact the conclave
May 4, 2025 at 06:32 am
The latest moves from the Synodal Way and Chinese Communist Party are clearly meant to influence what goes on inside the Sistine Chapel — but could they backfire?
Cardinals gather for ninth general congregation
May 3, 2025 at 01:19 pm
Sistine Chapel is ready to welcome cardinal electors
May 3, 2025 at 9:55 am
Cardinal Arinze: ‘We want a pope who is full of fire for the kingdom of Christ’
May 3, 2025 at 9:12 am
Cardinal Francis Arinze has said that the Church needs “a pope who is full of fire for the kingdom of Christ.”
In an interview with EWTN earlier this year, the 92-year-old cardinal reflected on the qualities needed in the next pope, offered wisdom to younger cardinals who will enter their first conclave, and spoke of the challenges facing the Church today.
“We want a pope who is full of fire for the kingdom of Christ,” the Nigerian cardinal said. “A pope who is there spreading the Gospel. … A pope through whom people will believe.”
Journalists press cardinals for statements ahead of conclave
May 3, 2025 at 8:04 am
Pope Francis’ cardinal picks bring new voices to the conclave
May 2, 2025 at 12:24 pm
The conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor will begin on May 7. Over 130 cardinal electors will vote in the conclave, the largest group of cardinal electors ever.
It is also arguably the most diverse group of electors ever, geographically speaking.
A closer look at the numbers — taking the estimated number of Catholics in a country and dividing them by the number of cardinal electors — gives some idea of how “represented” that country’s Catholic community will be in the conclave. The smaller the resulting number, the more “representation” those Catholics get in the conclave via the cardinal or cardinals who serve them.
Which country has the most representation, proportionally, at the conclave?
2025 conclave to be largest in Catholic Church’s history
May 2, 2025 at 10:02 am
The upcoming conclave to elect the successor to Pope Francis will be the largest in the history of the Catholic Church, with 133 cardinal electors expected to gather in the Sistine Chapel on May 7, Vatican officials confirmed this week.
The unprecedented number surpasses all previous papal conclaves, breaking the previous record of 115 electors in the 2005 and 2013 elections. It also marks the first time a conclave will be held with more than 120 voting cardinals — the limit set by St. John Paul II in his 1996 apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis.
Vatican prepares for conclave: Historic chimney now in place atop the Sistine Chapel
May 2, 2025 at 02:19 am
A glimpse of the conclave: Secrecy and voting protocols of the papal election
May 1, 2025 at 05:15 pm
With the conclave just days away, attention turns to the strict protocols governing the secretive process of electing the next pope.
EWTN News Vice President Dr. Matthew Bunson joins “EWTN News Nightly” from Rome to explain how secrecy is maintained during the conclave, whether any of the cardinals will have downtime during this period, how the voting process unfolds, and how many votes are required for a new pontiff to be chosen.
He also reflects on the unique overlap of Italy’s Labor Day and the feast of St. Joseph the Worker:
Why the upcoming conclave will be a decisive step for Europe
May 1, 2025 at 03:00 am ET
At a time when some postulate that Europe might soon become irrelevant because of the increasing prominence of the Global South — where the Church is growing fastest — it remains, as its institutional and theological center of gravity, a key player in the conclave outcome.
With currently 53 of the 135 voting cardinals coming from Europe — a third of whom are Italians — their collective priorities and concerns will influence not only the choice of the next pope but also the direction of the Church in a rapidly changing world.
It is becoming clear, however, that the European bloc is no longer unified, writes Solène Tadié in the National Catholic Register.
Conclave countdown: Qualities to look for in the next pope
May 1, 2025 at 01:30 am
The qualities of a pope go far beyond merely being a kind of CEO of the Catholic Church.
Inevitably, at a minimum, he should possess a strong faith and humility, be willing to adhere to the Church’s teachings and apostolic tradition, and personify the pope’s ancient title as “servus servorum Dei,” the servant of the servants of God.
But he should also possess other exceptional qualities, according to Edward Pentin at the National Catholic Register.
The places of the conclave
April 30, 2025 at 11:10 pm
The 2025 conclave: All the cardinal electors from A to Z
April 30, 2025 at 05:11 pm
