Conclave live: Cardinals set for more talks after black smoke signals no pope chosen on first day

Independent

08-05-2025

Cardinals in the secret conclave are set for another round of discussions on Thursday after failing to select the next pope on the first day of voting.
Black smoke has poured from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signalling the 133 cardinals taking part have voted but have not yet reached a two-thirds consensus required to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church.
The smoke is the only public sign of what is happening during the Papal Conclave, after the cardinals handed in their phones and took oaths of secrecy while the Vatican shut down mobile phone towers to protect the deliberations.
The conclave began with a mass in St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday morning, and senior cardinal Giovanni Battista Re prayed for the cardinals to be enlightened to choose 'the Pope our time needs'.
Standing before Michelangelo's famous vision of heaven and hell, the cardinals swore to carry out the solemn duty of selecting a new Pope.
Cardinals Pietro Parolin and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle have been among the favourites to succeed Pope Francis, who made liberal changes to the Catholic Church during his 12-year papacy.
Key frontrunners to be the next pope: Pierbattista Pizzaballa
According to insiders, another Italian could be in the running to be the next pope: Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The 60-year-old is one of the younger cardinals tipped to potentially succeed Pope Francis, but he has emerged as a favourite largely thanks to his role as leader of the Catholics in the Holy Land, at a time when events in Israel and Gaza are at the forefront of global politics.
Choosing Pizzaballa would be a significant geopolitical statement by the Church, particularly because the Church has at times been highly critical of Benjamin Netanyahu.
Pope Francis was known to highly respect him, and Pizzaballa is known for being a successful diplomat and a leading Biblical scholar.
Jabed Ahmed8 May 2025 05:00
Key frontrunners to be the next pope: Pietro Parolin
Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin has appeared on nearly every shortlist as a contender to be the next pope.
Parolin has been the Vatican's secretary of state for the past 12 years, the next most senior member of the Catholic Church after the Pope.
His role as the Vatican's top diplomat has brought him into contact with cardinals around the world, both in their home countries and in Rome, meaning he is well-known to all 132 other electors going into the conclave.
The 70-year-old, originally from a small town in the northern Italian region of Veneto, is said to be a steady administrator who could bring calm after three at-times tempestuous papacies.
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reports he could already have the support of 50 cardinals ahead of their lock-up this afternoon.
Who is Pietro Parolin? The soft-spoken diplomat who could soon be Pope
Pietro Parolin has emerged on nearly every shortlist as an obvious papal contender
Jabed Ahmed8 May 2025 04:00
A guide to history's most unusual Conclaves
A guide to history's most unusual Conclaves - as the next papal election begins
The history of papal elections features some surprising incidents
Jabed Ahmed8 May 2025 03:00
Who could be the new Pope? The cardinals in the running
Who could be the new Pope? The cardinals in the running ahead of the Conclave
Four frontrunners have emerged as the most likely contenders known as papabile to succeed Pope Francis but at least a dozen others are in strong contention
Jabed Ahmed8 May 2025 02:00
Watch | Cardinals take 'oath of secrecy'
8 May 2025 01:00
Challenges facing the new pope | The role of women
Pope Francis did more to promote women to leadership positions in the Vatican than any pope before him, and his successor will have to decide whether to continue that legacy, accelerate it or back down and change course.
The issue isn't minor. Catholic women do much of the church's work in schools and hospitals and are usually responsible for passing the faith to the next generation. But they have long complained of second-class status in an institution that reserves the priesthood for men.
Nuns are leaving in droves, either through attrition or simply quitting, leading to questions about the future of female religious orders.
The Vatican says the number of nuns globally has been haemorrhaging about 10,000 per year for over a decade, with their numbers at 599,229 at the end of 2022, the last year for which there are statistics. In 2012, there were 702,529 nuns globally.
The new pope will have to address women's expectations for not only a greater say in church governance but also greater recognition.
Jabed Ahmed7 May 2025 23:59
What the new Pope's name will say about their plans for the Catholic Church
What the new Pope's name will say about their plans for the Catholic Church
Four favourites have emerged to succeed Pope Francis but it is unclear which cardinal will be picked
Jabed Ahmed7 May 2025 23:00
Who is Cardinal Tagle? The youthful 67-year-old tipped as a favourite to be the next Pope
Who is Cardinal Tagle? Youthful 67-year-old tipped as a favourite to be the next Pope
Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle likes to be called by his nickname 'Chito'
Jabed Ahmed7 May 2025 22:00
How long does the conclave take?
The longest conclave in history lasted nearly three years, but it's reasonable to assume that this conclave will be much, much shorter.
Cardinals this week said they expect a short conclave, though it will likely take at least a few rounds of voting.
A first round produced darks dark smoke that rose into Wednesday's night sky, sending a disappointed crowd to disperse in all directions.
For most of the past century, it has taken between three and eight ballots to find a pope. John Paul I — the pope who reigned for 33 days — was elected on the third ballot in 1978. His successor, St. John Paul II, needed eight. Francis was elected on the fifth in 2013.
Jabed Ahmed7 May 2025 21:46
The history of papal names
For most of the Catholic Church's first millennium, popes used their given names. The first exception was the 6th century Roman Mercurius, who had been named for a pagan god and chose the more appropriate name of John II.
The practice of adopting a new name became ingrained during the 11th century, a period of German popes who chose names of early church bishops out of 'a desire to signify continuity," said the Rev. Roberto Regoli, a historian at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University.
For many centuries, new popes tended to choose the name of the pope who had elevated them to cardinal. John was the most popular, chosen by 23 popes, followed by Benedict and Gregory, each with 16.
Only starting in the mid-20th century did new popes begin to choose names signaling the aim of their papacy, Regoli said.
'Even now, as we are waiting for the new pope, the name with which he will present himself will help us to understand the horizon towards which he wants to proceed," Regoli said.
Some names have been out of use for centuries, like Urban or Innocent.
'I don't think anyone will pick Innocent,″ Imperatori-Lee said, given the abuse and other scandals that have rocked the church. 'I don't think that would be the right choice."
Jabed Ahmed