Conclave live: cardinals reconvene to elect new pope

Times

08-05-2025

The cardinals are allowed no communication with the outside world until a new pope is chosen
A second vote will be taken this morning
First vote took place on Wednesday night, but black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel after the cardinals failed to reach a decision
133 cardinals meet for a second day of the papal conclave to try to elect a new pope
Watch live as people wait for smoke declaring the outcome of voting in the Vatican City
Chemicals have been used to colour the smoke since 1958
The tradition of burning the cardinals' paper ballots dates back to the 15th century, while the use of white smoke to signal the election of a pope is a modern innovation, introduced in 1914.
After confusion caused by grey-looking smoke, the Vatican added a second stove in 2005 that burns chemicals to give a distinctive colour. It connects to a small flue which feeds into the same chimney.
Chemicals have been used to colour the smoke since 1958 but the newer stove — used for the first time during the election of Benedict XVI — is fitted with a fan and makes the smoke more visible.
A mix of potassium perchlorate, sulphur and anthracene — found in coal tar — is used to turn the smoke black, while potassium chlorate, lactose and pine resin make it white.
Error could be to blame for delay
One theory for the delay in yesterday's vote decision is that votes had to be recounted or recast after an error.
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In 2013 one cardinal who wanted to vote for Jorge Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis, wrote 'Broglio' by mistake.
Why did yesterday's vote take so long?
Black smoke yesterday evening indicated that no decision has been made
YARA NARDI/REUTERS
Conclave watchers are trying to figure out why the result from the first vote on Wednesday took such a long time. The crowd in St Peter's Square waited for more than three hours from the moment the doors of the Sistine Chapel closed at 5.43pm to when black smoke appeared at 9pm, even though the Vatican had said the result could arrive from 7pm.
One explanation is that cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, 90, who had the task of delivering a meditation to the electors after the doors closed before leaving them to vote, spoke for far longer than was expected.
Another reason is that the record number of cardinals — 133 rather than 115 in 2013 — needed more time to approach the urn one by one and deposit their voting slips, and the many first timers were unsure of the procedure.
Black smoke at noon if no consensus
If there is no result during the two morning votes, black smoke will be visible at the end of the morning session, meaning from noon local time.
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Similarly, if there is no result at the end of the afternoon session, black smoke will be seen at the end of the session, meaning from 5pm.
Four votes scheduled today
The new pope, when elected, will appear on the balcony at St Peter's Basilica
ANTONIO MASIELLOGETTY
From Tom Kington and Philip Willan in the Vatican City
The conclave to elect a new pope enters its second day today, with four votes — two in the morning and two in the afternoon — following a single, initial vote yesterday afternoon which produced no result.
The 133 voting cardinals who were due to leave their Vatican residence for the Sistine Chapel at 7.45am must return a two-thirds majority vote — meaning 89 votes — to elect a new pope.
Possible occasions to look out for white smoke pouring from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, meaning a pope has been elected, are from 10.30am, noon, 5.30pm and 7pm, the Vatican has said.