First Smoke At 8pm Local Time

133 Cardinal Electors are locked in the Sistine Chapel for the Conclave that is voting for the next pope in utmost secrecy whose only results can be told by smoke signal

• The new pope has to be chosen by the Catholic Church's most senior officials, known as the College of Cardinals.
• All men, they are appointed directly by the pope, and are usually ordained bishops.
• There are currently 252 Catholic cardinals, just over 130 of whom are eligible to vote for the new pope.
• The others are over the age of 80, which means they cannot take part in the election, although they can join in the debate over who should be selected.

🔴 Live Updates

May 7, 22:08

It's Black Smoke

Black smoke signals the end of the first day of the conclave at 21:00, hours after the doors of the Sistine Chapel were closed with the words, "Extra omnes" or "Everyone out."

This means the conclave will continue tomorrow morning when the Cardinal electors will gather once more in the Chapel around 10:30am Rome time to cast their votes again for the election of the 267th Pope.

May 7, 20:02

How smoke is used to announce the new pope

To the outside world, the only information about how the conclave is progressing is smoke from the chapel's chimney when ballot papers are burned after each round of voting, reports BBC. Black smoke signals failure.

White smoke means a new Pope has been chosen. The new pontiff normally appears on the balcony overlooking St Peter's Square within an hour of his selection.

The senior cardinal confirms the decision with the words "Habemus Papam" - Latin for "we have a Pope" - and introduces the new pontiff by his chosen papal name, which may not be his original given name.

For example, Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, but chose his papal name to honour St Francis of Assisi.

May 7, 19:57

As the clock winds down to that hour with the world waiting, it isn't only Catholics - or let's say humans eager for the white smoke. This seagull has been up there and so much to human envy, the little fella with yellow feet is perched closer to the chimney. Talk of wanting...

May 7, 19:54

Surge in Vatican Social Media Follows

Jamila Mulindwa: Reports from the Vatican indicate that there has been an increase in social media followings for the Vatican media with millions of young people taking center stage.

Downloads for the Vatican social media platforms have gone up.

May 7, 19:49

Popes Elected in Very Short Conclaves

Meanwhile, Pope Pius XII must hold that rare feat and you wouldn't be envy him much less in knowing that he is a Vulnerable but there are pontiffs who made their own records in being elected in a very short Conclave.

Pope John XXIII (Angelo Roncalli) – 1958 | Elected in just 11 ballots over two days.

Though not the initial favourite, he became a consensus figure among divided camps.

Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini) – 1963 | Elected on the sixth ballot over three days.

He was widely seen as Pope John XXIII’s natural successor.

Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) – 2013 | Elected on the fifth ballot after two days.

His election followed the resignation of Benedict XVI and came as a surprise to many observers.

May 7, 19:45

Popes Elected in the First Ballot

Pope Pius XII (Eugenio Pacelli) – 1939

Elected on the very first ballot.

He was already Vatican Secretary of State and well-known internationally, particularly for his diplomacy.

Pope John Paul I (Albino Luciani) – 1978 (August conclave)

Elected very quickly, likely on the first or early ballot.

His election surprised many, as he was seen as a compromise candidate between conservative and progressive blocs.

Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) – 2005

Elected on the second day, after four ballots.

Though not first-ballot, this was an exceptionally fast conclave, helped by Ratzinger’s prominence as Dean of the College of Cardinals and his strong support among conservatives.

May 7, 19:33

Has a pope ever been elected in the first round of voting?

Yes, a pope has been elected in the first round of voting, though it is extremely rare.

One of the most notable examples is Pope Pius XII, who was elected in the very first ballot of the conclave in 1939. His election came during a time of intense political uncertainty, just months before the outbreak of World War II. Eugenio Pacelli, who became Pius XII, was already serving as the Vatican Secretary of State and was highly respected among the cardinals, which contributed to the swift consensus.

First-round elections are unusual because conclaves typically involve multiple rounds of voting as cardinals weigh various candidates. Consensus often takes time to build, making immediate decisions rare in papal history.

Pope Pius XII

May 7, 16:27

The Conclave: World Awaits First Smoke Signal

The new pope has to be chosen by the Catholic Church's most senior officials, known as the College of Cardinals.

All men, they are appointed directly by the pope, and are usually ordained bishops.

There are currently 252 Catholic cardinals, just over 130 of whom are eligible to vote for the new pope.

The others are over the age of 80, which means they cannot take part in the election, although they can join in the debate over who should be selected.