Conclave live: New Pope elected as white smoke rises above Vatican

Sky News

08-05-2025

People taken off guard as white smoke emerged
Our Europe correspondent Siobhan Robbins is in St Peter's Square right now amid the celebrations.
She says when the white smoke appeared there was a "huge roar from the crowd".
"The cheering continued and then the bell started ringing," she says.
"I think people thought it was going to be slightly later in the evening and so people were taken off guard."
The 267th pope has been chosen - what happens now?
Now we've seen the white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney, what happens next?
We await the big reveal of the new pope's identity from the balcony of St Peter's.
That will include... The Latin pronouncement of "Habemus papam" - meaning "we have a pope";
This will be followed by another religious phrase in Latin;
We'll then get the forename of the elected cardinal - again in Latin;
Then, we'll get some more religious Latin;
Only then will we get the elected cardinal's surname in Latin;
And finally, the reveal of the elected cardinal's chosen papal name in Latin.
New pope chosen - as white smoke emerges
White smoke is beginning to emerge from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel.
This means a new pontiff has been elected on the second day of the conclave.
Crowds are cheering and there is an eruption of applause in St Peter's Square.
People gathering in St Peter's Square
More and more people are gathering in St Peter's Square, our producer Eleonora Chiarella, who is there on the ground, reports...
Here is what she can see...
The conclave in numbers
Here's the conclave in numbers: We've got 133 cardinals still trying to elect a pontiff
still trying to elect a pontiff They have to be aged under 80 to take part
to take part They've had three rounds of voting so far - with two more expected this afternoon - unless we get a new pope on the first of those...
so far - with expected this afternoon - unless we get a new pope on the first of those... To elect a new pontiff, a two-thirds majority is needed, or 89 votes
Pope Francis's successor would become the 276th pope
Around 15,000 people are said to have travelled to St Peter's Square today
are said to have travelled to St Peter's Square today There are said to be almost 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide
'White smoke could be seen as early as this evening'
As we watch the Sistine Chapel chimney, one cardinal has suggested that white smoke could be seen as early as this evening.
Speaking as crowds wait for smoke to emerge, Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, 82, who served as president of the administration of the patrimony of the Holy See, said: "The white smoke could be as early as this evening or more likely it will arrive tomorrow morning."
Cardinal Calcagno is outside the conclave as he is over 80 years old, and only cardinals under 80 can vote in the secret ballot.
As we have been reporting today, the 133 cardinals have resumed voting after spending the night at their Vatican residences.
Earlier today, black smoke again billowed out of the Sistine Chapel, meaning the cardinals have failed to elect a new pope after three ballots.
In pictures: Umbrellas out as hot weather hits
Much of today is a waiting game for the (hopeful) moment white smoke is seen, signalling an end to the voting process.
But amid 20C hot weather, many of those who have made the journey out are taking shelter against the sun under their umbrellas.
Beyond the personalities, what could influence a vote for pontiff?
We've spoken often about how the personalities of cardinals influence votes.
But some practical factors play a role too.
If a relatively younger man is picked, say in his 60s, suddenly the Catholic Church is looking at a papacy maybe lasting two decades or maybe even longer.
There will be a question over whether that's what the cardinals want.
Alongside that, picking a pope where the church is growing - like Asia or Africa - could bring upheaval to the internal Italian-heavy bureaucracy of the Vatican.
This structure is already reeling from the late pope's go-it-alone style.
But such a decision could also serve to accelerate growth in these areas.
Watch chimney-cam live as afternoon voting begins
With this afternoon's voting now in session, all eyes return to the chimney.
If you want to join the world in watching, press play on the stream below.
Remember, black smoke means no new pope and white smoke means a successor has been chosen.
Afternoon voting begins
It's 3.30pm which means the cardinals have begun the afternoon session of voting.
The doors of the Sistine Chapel have been sealed, so all eyes return to the chimney to see whether the 133 cardinals can reach a decision.
There is time for two rounds of voting between now and 6pm.
It marks the fourth and fifth round of voting after two failed this morning.
If successful, we'll see white smoke.
A round of voting lasts roughly an hour, so we could see a result as soon as 4.30pm.
We'll only see black smoke if both rounds of voting fail, later in the evening session.
Stick with us for the latest...