Latest news with #CollegeofCardinalsDashboard
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Conclave: What time will we see black or white smoke? Past elections give clues
More than 130 cardinals will arrive in Vatican City within the week to participate in the upcoming papal conclave, selecting Pope Francis' successor. Though the process is done in secrecy, thousands of onlookers in Rome will await a signal in the sky to learn when the new pontiff is chosen. If black smoke plumes over the Vatican, observers know a new pope has yet to be chosen. If white smoke is spotted, folks will know a new pope has been selected to lead the Catholic Church. Shortly after white smoke appears, the new pope is introduced to the world. Pope Francis, the church's 266th pontiff, died on Easter Monday, April 21. After spending much of the year in the hospital, he died from a stroke and irreversible heart failure at the age of 88. Though he was known for his progressive ideals, Francis' work may have helped create a further divide among the more conservative and liberal patrons of the Catholic Church. Because there may be stronger ideals upheld by cardinals eligible to select the new pope, the upcoming conclave may take longer than usual, Matthew Gabriele, a medieval studies professor at Virginia Tech, told USA TODAY. As the conclave approaches, here's what to know about the religious event and how the general public stays informed about when a new pope is selected. More: Vatican's 'May Madness': Will new pope be progressive or will church turn back the clock? When is the upcoming conclave? The first day of the conclave is Wednesday, May 7. Cardinals attend the Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass at St Peter's Basilica, before they enter a conclave on March 12, 2013, in Vatican City to choose the successor of Pope Benedict XVI, who ended up being Pope Francis. (Editors note: A fisheye lens has been used for this picture.) What is a conclave? A papal conclave is an election of a new pope, conducted by the College of Cardinals − bishops and Vatican officials selected by the pope. The cardinals are tasked with voting for one of their colleagues to take over the role of pontiff. As of May 1, 135 cardinals are eligible to vote in the conclave, according to The Holy See's College of Cardinals Dashboard. During the conclave, the cardinals are sequestered. They may not communicate with the "outside world" and vice versa. Before voting, the cardinals discuss the needs and challenges facing the Catholic Church. They then gather in St. Peter's Basilica to invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit on who should be the successor, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (Editor note: A fisheye lens has been used for this picture) Cardinals attend the Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome before they enter a conclave to decide who the successor would be for Pope Benedict XVI on March 12, 2013. For the actual election, the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel, take an oath of secrecy and seal the church's doors. Each cardinal votes by secret ballot. He says a prayer and then drops his ballot in a large chalice, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. If one candidate does not receive a two-thirds majority vote, another election is held. This process is repeated until one candidate has received the necessary votes. The longest conclave in history lasted nearly three years (34 months) with the election of Pope Gregory X in 1271, according to EWTN Vatican. On the flip side, Pope Francis was elected just one day after the conclave began in 2013. More: How accurate is the movie 'Conclave' about the election of a new pope? What does the black and white smoke during a conclave mean? Black smoke rises from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City, indicating that no decision has been made after the first voting session on the second day of voting for the election of a new pope March 13, 2013. Roman Catholic Cardinals started a conclave on Tuesday to elect a successor to Pope Benedict, who abdicated last month. Because the cardinals are sequestered during a conclave, black or white smoke, which bellows from a Sistine Chapel chimney, is used to represent the cardinals' decisions for the day. If one candidate doesn't receive the necessary two-thirds vote, the ballots are burned in a stove with a mixture of chemicals to produce black smoke. The black smoke indicates more voting is ahead. If a candidate is selected, the final round of ballots are burned with chemicals to produce white smoke. What time to expect conclave smoke signals There isn't an exact timing for the smoke signals that occur during a conclave, but experts use past conclaves to make educated guesses. Gabriele said that on the conclave's first day − May 7 − it is likely that the cardinals will only conduct one round of voting, as the majority of the day will be spent taking care of introductory business, including a special sermon led by one of the church's top officials. White or black smoke could be expected around 7-8 p.m. local time (1-2 p.m. ET). If a final decision isn't made the first day, folks can expect the next smoke signal to be shared mid-morning the next day − Thursday, May 8. Typically, the cardinals can fit four rounds of voting into one day, if one candidate is not selected. If this is the case, Gabriele said smoke signals will occur around mid-morning, noon, mid-afternoon and evening. White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel and the bells of St Peter's Basilica rang out on March 13, 2013, signaling that Roman Catholic Cardinals had ended their conclave and elected a new leader, who chose the name Pope Francis. The Catholic magazine America predicts the same, with signals at around 10:30 a.m., noon, 5:30 p.m. and after 7 p.m. local time − (4:30 a.m., 6 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and after 1 p.m. ET). In 2013, during the conclave in which Pope Francis was elected, the first black smoke signal was spotted at about 7:41 p.m. local time, America Magazine reported. Editor's note: This story has been updated to add a new link. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Conclave: What time will we see black or white smoke? What we know
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Black smoke vs. white smoke: What does each color mean during conclave?
Black smoke vs. white smoke: What does each color mean during conclave? The black and white smoke comes from a cast-iron stove inside the Sistine Chapel. Show Caption Hide Caption Chimney to signal new Pope installed over Sistine Chapel The chimney that will signal the selection of a new pope at the end of the upcoming conclave was installed in the Vatican City. As the papal conclave begins on Wednesday, May 7, onlookers from around the world will watch for smoke in Vatican City, eager for the first update on who will be the next leader of the Catholic Church. On the morning of May 7, more than 130 cardinals − the Catholic Church's most senior officials − will gather to vote on who they believe should be the next pontiff, succeeding Pope Francis. While this process is held in secrecy, the rest of the world is informed on the group's daily decisions by white or black-colored smoke funneled from the top of the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke indicates a non-conclusive answer, and white smoke indicates that a new pope has been selected. The first smoke signal is expected to occur on the evening of Wednesday, May 7. Here's what to know about the black and white smoke used during a papal conclave. More: A conclave like no other: How papal pick gathering is different this year More: How accurate is the movie 'Conclave' about the election of a new pope? What is a papal conclave? A papal conclave is an election of a new pope, conducted by the College of Cardinals − bishops and Vatican officials selected by the pope. The cardinals are tasked with voting for one of their colleagues to take over the role of pontiff. As of May 5, 135 cardinals are eligible to vote in the conclave, according to The Holy See's College of Cardinals Dashboard. During the conclave, the cardinals are sequestered, and cannot communicate with the "outside world." Before voting, the cardinals discuss the needs and challenges facing the Catholic Church. They then gather in St. Peter's Basilica to invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit on who should be the successor, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. For the actual election, the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel, take an oath of secrecy and seal the church's doors. Each cardinal votes by secret ballot. He says a prayer and then drops his ballot in a large chalice, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. If one candidate does not receive a two-thirds majority vote, another election is held. This process is repeated until one candidate has received the necessary votes. The longest conclave in history lasted nearly three years (34 months) with the election of Pope Gregory X in 1271, according to EWTN Vatican. On the flip side, Pope Francis was elected just one day after the conclave began in 2013. What does the black and white smoke mean during a conclave? Black and white smoke is used to represent the cardinals' decisions each day, as they are sequestered and cannot share this news directly. If one candidate doesn't receive the necessary two-thirds vote, the ballots are burned in a stove with a mixture of chemicals to produce black smoke. The black smoke indicates more voting is ahead. If a candidate is selected, the final round of ballots are burned with chemicals to produce white smoke. What time are the smoke signals? There isn't an exact timing for the smoke signals that occur during a conclave, but experts use past conclaves to make educated guesses. On May 7, it is likely the cardinals will only conduct one round of voting, as the majority of the day will be spent taking care of introductory business, including a special sermon led by one of the church's top officials, Matthew Gabriele, a medieval studies professor at Virginia Tech, previously told USA TODAY. White or black smoke could be expected around 7-8 p.m. local time (1-2 p.m. ET). If a final decision isn't made the first day, people can expect the next smoke signal to be shared mid-morning the next day, Thursday, May 8. The cardinals can fit up to four rounds of voting in one day, if one candidate is not selected. If this is the case, Gabriele said smoke signals will occur around mid-morning, noon, mid-afternoon and evening. In 2013, during the conclave in which Pope Francis was elected, the first black smoke signal was spotted at about 7:41 p.m. local time, America Magazine reported. Where does the smoke come from? The black and white smoke comes from a cast iron stove inside the Sistine Chapel. One of the stoves is used to burn the cardinals' ballots and the other is to send puffs of black or white smoke up above. What chemicals are mixed with the ballots to produce black and white smoke? During the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis, the black smoke was produced using a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene (a component of coal tar) and sulfur. The conclave used a combination of potassium chlorate, lactose and chloroform resin to create the white smoke. What happens once a candidate is chosen? Once a candidate has received two-thirds of the cardinals' votes, accepts the position and chooses his papal name, the senior cardinal deacon announces him from the balcony of St. Peter's balcony before the new pope steps out to face the crowd. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How long will it take for a new pope to be elected? How past conclaves fared
How long will it take for a new pope to be elected? How past conclaves fared Thousands of onlookers have gathered in Vatican City, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to get a first look at the Catholic Church's new pope. But just how long will they need to stand around waiting? On Wednesday, May 7, the College of Cardinals − bishops and other senior Vatican officials − will gather to begin what's known as a papal conclave, which is the election to select a new pope. Though much pomp and circumstance is part of a papal conclave, the timeline for the election varies per event. Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, was elected just one day after the 2013 conclave began. And only twice since the start of the 20th century have conclaves been up to five days. Due to the divide between the more progressive and conservative patrons within the Catholic Church, this conclave may take longer than usual, Matthew Gabriele, a medieval studies professor at Virginia Tech, previously told USA TODAY. ADVERTISEMENT Here's a look at how long conclaves lasted over the past century. More: Where to watch the 2025 conclave: TV channels, livestream, more More: Will we see the first-ever American pope? How USA's image could come into play How long will the conclave be before a new pope is selected? There is not a set timeframe for how long a conclave may take. Pope Francis was elected just one day after the 2013 conclave, but on the flip side, the longest conclave in history lasted nearly three years with the election of Pope Gregory X in 1271, according to EWTN Vatican. Only 2 conclaves have lasted up to five days since 1900s Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, only two conclaves have lasted up to five days − Pope Pius XI's conclave in 1922 and Pope Pius X's conclave in 1903. What is a papal conclave? A papal conclave is an election of a new pope conducted by the College of Cardinals, which is composed of bishops and Vatican officials selected by the pope. The cardinals are tasked with voting for one of their colleagues to take over the role of pontiff. As of May 1, 135 cardinals are eligible to vote in the conclave, according to The Holy See's College of Cardinals Dashboard. ADVERTISEMENT Before voting, the cardinals discuss the needs and challenges facing the Catholic Church. They then gather in St. Peter's Basilica to invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit on who should be the successor, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. For the actual election, the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel, take an oath of secrecy and seal the church's doors. Each cardinal votes by secret ballot. During this process, the cardinal says a prayer and then drops his ballot in a large chalice, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. If one candidate does not receive a two-thirds majority vote, another election is held. This process is repeated until one candidate has received the necessary votes. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How long until we have a new pope? Past conclaves share clues
Indianapolis Star
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
How long will it take for a new pope to be elected? How past conclaves fared
Due to the political divide within the Catholic Church, this conclave may take longer than usual, Matthew Gabriele, a medieval studies professor at Virginia Tech, said. Show Caption Thousands of onlookers have gathered in Vatican City, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to get a first look at the Catholic Church's new pope. But just how long will they need to stand around waiting? On Wednesday, May 7, the College of Cardinals − bishops and other senior Vatican officials − will gather to begin what's known as a papal conclave, which is the election to select a new pope. Though much pomp and circumstance is part of a papal conclave, the timeline for the election varies per event. Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, was elected just one day after the 2013 conclave began. And only twice since the start of the 20th century have conclaves been up to five days. Due to the divide between the more progressive and conservative patrons within the Catholic Church, this conclave may take longer than usual, Matthew Gabriele, a medieval studies professor at Virginia Tech, previously told USA TODAY. Here's a look at how long conclaves lasted over the past century. How long will the conclave be before a new pope is selected? There is not a set timeframe for how long a conclave may take. Pope Francis was elected just one day after the 2013 conclave, but on the flip side, the longest conclave in history lasted nearly three years with the election of Pope Gregory X in 1271, according to EWTN Vatican. Only 2 conclaves have lasted up to five days since 1900s Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, only two conclaves have lasted up to five days − Pope Pius XI's conclave in 1922 and Pope Pius X's conclave in 1903. What is a papal conclave? A papal conclave is an election of a new pope conducted by the College of Cardinals, which is composed of bishops and Vatican officials selected by the pope. The cardinals are tasked with voting for one of their colleagues to take over the role of pontiff. As of May 1, 135 cardinals are eligible to vote in the conclave, according to The Holy See's College of Cardinals Dashboard. Before voting, the cardinals discuss the needs and challenges facing the Catholic Church. They then gather in St. Peter's Basilica to invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit on who should be the successor, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. For the actual election, the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel, take an oath of secrecy and seal the church's doors. Each cardinal votes by secret ballot. During this process, the cardinal says a prayer and then drops his ballot in a large chalice, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. If one candidate does not receive a two-thirds majority vote, another election is held. This process is repeated until one candidate has received the necessary votes.
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
How long will it take for a new pope to be elected? How past conclaves fared
How long will it take for a new pope to be elected? How past conclaves fared Due to the political divide within the Catholic Church, this conclave may take longer than usual, Matthew Gabriele, a medieval studies professor at Virginia Tech, said. Show Caption Hide Caption What social and geopolitical challenges will the next pope face? As the conclave gathers to elect a new pope, what social and geopolitical challenges around the world will the new pontiff need to navigate? Thousands of onlookers have gathered in Vatican City, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to get a first look at the Catholic Church's new pope. But just how long will they need to stand around waiting? On Wednesday, May 7, the College of Cardinals − bishops and other senior Vatican officials − will gather to begin what's known as a papal conclave, which is the election to select a new pope. Though much pomp and circumstance is part of a papal conclave, the timeline for the election varies per event. Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, was elected just one day after the 2013 conclave began. And only twice since the start of the 20th century have conclaves been up to five days. Due to the divide between the more progressive and conservative patrons within the Catholic Church, this conclave may take longer than usual, Matthew Gabriele, a medieval studies professor at Virginia Tech, previously told USA TODAY. Here's a look at how long conclaves lasted over the past century. More: Where to watch the 2025 conclave: TV channels, livestream, more More: Will we see the first-ever American pope? How USA's image could come into play How long will the conclave be before a new pope is selected? There is not a set timeframe for how long a conclave may take. Pope Francis was elected just one day after the 2013 conclave, but on the flip side, the longest conclave in history lasted nearly three years with the election of Pope Gregory X in 1271, according to EWTN Vatican. Only 2 conclaves have lasted up to five days since 1900s Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, only two conclaves have lasted up to five days − Pope Pius XI's conclave in 1922 and Pope Pius X's conclave in 1903. What is a papal conclave? A papal conclave is an election of a new pope conducted by the College of Cardinals, which is composed of bishops and Vatican officials selected by the pope. The cardinals are tasked with voting for one of their colleagues to take over the role of pontiff. As of May 1, 135 cardinals are eligible to vote in the conclave, according to The Holy See's College of Cardinals Dashboard. Before voting, the cardinals discuss the needs and challenges facing the Catholic Church. They then gather in St. Peter's Basilica to invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit on who should be the successor, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. For the actual election, the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel, take an oath of secrecy and seal the church's doors. Each cardinal votes by secret ballot. During this process, the cardinal says a prayer and then drops his ballot in a large chalice, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. If one candidate does not receive a two-thirds majority vote, another election is held. This process is repeated until one candidate has received the necessary votes. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
