Latest news with #MayMadness
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Déjà vu in Boston, where the Knicks completed another 20-point comeback
Yahoo Sports AM is our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it every weekday morning. 🏀 Steph sidelined: Stephen Curry will miss at least a week after straining his hamstring on Tuesday. That rules him out for Games 2, 3 and 4 against the Timberwolves, at a minimum. ⚽️ PSG 3, Arsenal 1: Paris Saint-Germain cruised into the Champions League final, where Inter Milan awaits. The French giants are seeking their first title, while Milan are seeking their fourth (1964-65, 2010). 🏒 Mammoth make it official: The Utah Hockey Club is now the Utah Mammoth. The franchise revealed its new identity on Wednesday, ending a yearlong process. 🏈 New WR2 in Dallas: The Cowboys acquired George Pickens from the Steelers, giving Dak Prescott another talented (albeit inconsistent) wideout alongside CeeDee Lamb. ⚾️ First to 25: Despite a laundry-list of injuries, the Dodgers just keep winning, becoming the first team to reach 25 wins (25-12) after trouncing the Marlins, 10-1. March Madness was lacking this year. Turns out all the lower-seed upsets, improbable comebacks and frantic finishes were merely postponed a couple months. Welcome to May Madness. Oops, they did it again: The Knicks completed a 20-point comeback for the second time in three nights to stun the Celtics, 91-90, and go up 2-0 on the defending champs. The Celtics held the Knicks scoreless for nearly five minutes to start the game and their 20-point lead in the third quarter felt comfortable. Then came the final period. New York broke open a 21-4 run in the fourth quarter while Boston essentially shut down, going more than eight minutes without a field goal at one point. Déjà vu: The 20-point comeback wasn't the only thing that felt familiar in Game 2. Like Game 1, the Celtics made exactly 25% of their 3-point attempts (15-for-60 in Game 1, 10-for-40 in Game 2, 25-for-100 overall) and Mikal Bridges made another game-sealing defensive play in the final seconds. What are we witnessing? Before this year, the NBA had never seen a 60-win team go down 2-0 in the second round of the playoffs since it expanded to 16 teams in 1984. It's now happened twice in the last two days; first the Cavs, now the Celtics. Meanwhile, in the nightcap… Thunder 149, Nuggets 106: OKC scored 87 first-half points (NBA playoff record) and steamrolled Denver to even the series. Eight Thunder had double-digit points, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 34 (on 11-13 FG). Go deeper… Celtics remain calm after another collapse: 'We can tie this thing back up' (Ben Rohrbach, Yahoo Sports) There are hot streaks, and there is whatever Mikko "The Moose" Rantanen is on right now. Man on fire: Rantanen recorded a hat trick on Wednesday (all in the second period) to lift the Stars past the Jets, 3-2, in their series opener. This comes after he scored a hat trick on Saturday (all in the third period) to beat the Avalanche, his former team, in Game 7. Some stats: He's the third player with hat tricks in consecutive playoff games, joining Jari Kurri (1985) and Doug Bentley (1944). He's the first player with multiple three-goal periods in the same postseason. He's scored or assisted on the Stars' last 12 playoff goals, the longest streak ever. Mario Lemieux is the next closest at nine. The backdrop: Rantanen, who leads the playoffs in goals (8) and points (15), took a winding road to get here. The Finnish forward began the season in Colorado before being traded to Carolina, who shipped him to Dallas 40 days later. That trade already came back to haunt the Avalanche. For the Stars, it's working out beautifully so far. Meanwhile, in Toronto… Maple Leafs 4, Panthers 3: Max Domi and Max Pacioretty each had a goal and an assist, and new dad Mitch Marner scored the tie-breaking goal to give Toronto a 2-0 lead over the defending champs. The series shifts to Florida for Game 3 tomorrow. For years, college sports leaders journeyed to the nation's capital by the dozens to lobby for congressional help amid a period of seismic change. Soon, the White House may step in, with a little help from a college football legend. From Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger: President Donald Trump is making plans to create a presidential commission on college athletics, the first step in what could be a months-long endeavor for solutions to the issues ailing the ecosystem, sources tell Yahoo Sports. Trump's involvement, though not surprising, is a landmark moment in college athletics history — the country's most powerful elected leader potentially shaping the future of the industry. Many college sports stakeholders have been briefed on the matter. It is unclear when an announcement could come. The commission is expected to deeply examine the unwieldy landscape of college sports, including the frequency of player movement in the transfer portal, the unregulated booster compensation paid to athletes, the employment debate, the application of Title IX to revenue-sharing payments and even conference membership and TV contracts. Nick Saban, a central figure in the fight for college sports legislation, is expected to be integral to the commission's work. He met with Trump during his visit to Tuscaloosa last week to give a graduation address at Alabama — a meeting that's now transformed into plans for this executive group to be formed. The backdrop: The White House's involvement comes amid stalled progress on Capitol Hill, where 13 congressional hearings about college sports have been held over the last five years with little to show for it. More than a dozen bills have been introduced — but none have reached debate on the Senate or House floor. Go deeper… Nick Saban, college sports czar? (Jay Busbee, Yahoo Sports) Three home teams will try to salvage a split tonight before heading on the road, with the Capitals hosting the Hurricanes (7pm ET, ESPN), the Timberwolves hosting the Warriors (8:30pm, TNT) and the Golden Knights hosting the Oilers (9:30pm, ESPN). More to watch: The PGA Tour's Truist Championship tees off at Philadelphia Cricket Club (11am, ESPN+; 2pm, Golf) … No. 8 Auburn hosts South Carolina on the diamond (7pm, ESPN2) … Montreal hosts Ottawa in Game 1 of the PWHL Semifinals (7pm, YouTube). The Mariners (22-14) have won nine straight series for the first time since 2001, when they tied the MLB record for wins in a season. Question: How many games did the 2001 Mariners win? 112 116 120 119 Answer at the bottom. Tyrese Haliburton is 10-for-11 on shots to tie or take the lead in the final two minutes this season (including 3-for-3 in the playoffs). Do you realize how ridiculous that is? Watch every shot. Trivia answer: 116 We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Déjà vu in Boston, where the Knicks completed another 20-point comeback
Yahoo Sports AM is our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it every weekday morning. 🚨 Headlines 🏀 Steph sidelined: Stephen Curry will miss at least a week after straining his hamstring on Tuesday. That rules him out for Games 2, 3 and 4 against the Timberwolves, at a minimum. Advertisement ⚽️ PSG 3, Arsenal 1: Paris Saint-Germain cruised into the Champions League final, where Inter Milan awaits. The French giants are seeking their first title, while Milan are seeking their fourth (1964-65, 2010). 🏒 Mammoth make it official: The Utah Hockey Club is now the Utah Mammoth. The franchise revealed its new identity on Wednesday, ending a yearlong process. 🏈 New WR2 in Dallas: The Cowboys acquired George Pickens from the Steelers, giving Dak Prescott another talented (albeit inconsistent) wideout alongside CeeDee Lamb. ⚾️ First to 25: Despite a laundry-list of injuries, the Dodgers just keep winning, becoming the first team to reach 25 wins (25-12) after trouncing the Marlins, 10-1. 🏀 Déjà vu in Boston (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images) March Madness was lacking this year. Turns out all the lower-seed upsets, improbable comebacks and frantic finishes were merely postponed a couple months. Welcome to May Madness. Advertisement Oops, they did it again: The Knicks completed a 20-point comeback for the second time in three nights to stun the Celtics, 91-90, and go up 2-0 on the defending champs. The Celtics held the Knicks scoreless for nearly five minutes to start the game and their 20-point lead in the third quarter felt comfortable. Then came the final period. New York broke open a 21-4 run in the fourth quarter while Boston essentially shut down, going more than eight minutes without a field goal at one point. Déjà vu: The 20-point comeback wasn't the only thing that felt familiar in Game 2. Like Game 1, the Celtics made exactly 25% of their 3-point attempts (15-for-60 in Game 1, 10-for-40 in Game 2, 25-for-100 overall) and Mikal Bridges made another game-sealing defensive play in the final seconds. What are we witnessing? Before this year, the NBA had never seen a 60-win team go down 2-0 in the second round of the playoffs since it expanded to 16 teams in 1984. It's now happened twice in the last two days; first the Cavs, now the Celtics. Meanwhile, in the nightcap… The Thunder are back in the win column. () Thunder 149, Nuggets 106: OKC scored 87 first-half points (NBA playoff record) and steamrolled Denver to even the series. Eight Thunder had double-digit points, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 34 (on 11-13 FG). Advertisement Go deeper… Celtics remain calm after another collapse: 'We can tie this thing back up' (Ben Rohrbach, Yahoo Sports) 🏒 The Moose is loose! () There are hot streaks, and there is whatever Mikko "The Moose" Rantanen is on right now. Man on fire: Rantanen recorded a hat trick on Wednesday (all in the second period) to lift the Stars past the Jets, 3-2, in their series opener. This comes after he scored a hat trick on Saturday (all in the third period) to beat the Avalanche, his former team, in Game 7. Some stats: He's the third player with hat tricks in consecutive playoff games, joining Jari Kurri (1985) and Doug Bentley (1944). He's the first player with multiple three-goal periods in the same postseason. He's scored or assisted on the Stars' last 12 playoff goals, the longest streak ever. Mario Lemieux is the next closest at nine. The backdrop: Rantanen, who leads the playoffs in goals (8) and points (15), took a winding road to get here. The Finnish forward began the season in Colorado before being traded to Carolina, who shipped him to Dallas 40 days later. That trade already came back to haunt the Avalanche. For the Stars, it's working out beautifully so far. Advertisement Meanwhile, in Toronto… Max Domi celebrates his goal. (Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) Maple Leafs 4, Panthers 3: Max Domi and Max Pacioretty each had a goal and an assist, and new dad Mitch Marner scored the tie-breaking goal to give Toronto a 2-0 lead over the defending champs. The series shifts to Florida for Game 3 tomorrow. 🎓 Trump, Saban to shape future of college sports Trump and Saban last week before the president addresses graduating students at the University of Alabama. () For years, college sports leaders journeyed to the nation's capital by the dozens to lobby for congressional help amid a period of seismic change. Soon, the White House may step in, with a little help from a college football legend. From Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger: President Donald Trump is making plans to create a presidential commission on college athletics, the first step in what could be a months-long endeavor for solutions to the issues ailing the ecosystem, sources tell Yahoo Sports. Advertisement Trump's involvement, though not surprising, is a landmark moment in college athletics history — the country's most powerful elected leader potentially shaping the future of the industry. Many college sports stakeholders have been briefed on the matter. It is unclear when an announcement could come. The commission is expected to deeply examine the unwieldy landscape of college sports, including the frequency of player movement in the transfer portal, the unregulated booster compensation paid to athletes, the employment debate, the application of Title IX to revenue-sharing payments and even conference membership and TV contracts. Nick Saban, a central figure in the fight for college sports legislation, is expected to be integral to the commission's work. He met with Trump during his visit to Tuscaloosa last week to give a graduation address at Alabama — a meeting that's now transformed into plans for this executive group to be formed. The backdrop: The White House's involvement comes amid stalled progress on Capitol Hill, where 13 congressional hearings about college sports have been held over the last five years with little to show for it. More than a dozen bills have been introduced — but none have reached debate on the Senate or House floor. Advertisement Go deeper… Nick Saban, college sports czar? (Jay Busbee, Yahoo Sports) 📺 Watchlist: Home teams in a hole How will Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves respond after losing Game 1 at home? (Abbie Parr/AP Photo) Three home teams will try to salvage a split tonight before heading on the road, with the Capitals hosting the Hurricanes (7pm ET, ESPN), the Timberwolves hosting the Warriors (8:30pm, TNT) and the Golden Knights hosting the Oilers (9:30pm, ESPN). More to watch: The PGA Tour's Truist Championship tees off at Philadelphia Cricket Club (11am, ESPN+; 2pm, Golf) … No. 8 Auburn hosts South Carolina on the diamond (7pm, ESPN2) … Montreal hosts Ottawa in Game 1 of the PWHL Semifinals (7pm, YouTube). ⚾️ MLB trivia Seattle is rolling. () The Mariners (22-14) have won nine straight series for the first time since 2001, when they tied the MLB record for wins in a season. Advertisement Question: How many games did the 2001 Mariners win? 112 116 120 119 Answer at the bottom. 🏀 Clutch gene Tyrese Haliburton celebrates with teammates after his game-winner against the Cavaliers. () Tyrese Haliburton is 10-for-11 on shots to tie or take the lead in the final two minutes this season (including 3-for-3 in the playoffs). Do you realize how ridiculous that is? Watch every shot. Trivia answer: 116 We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Déjà vu in Boston, where the Knicks completed another 20-point comeback
Yahoo Sports AM is our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it every weekday morning. 🏀 Steph sidelined: Stephen Curry will miss at least a week after straining his hamstring on Tuesday. That rules him out for Games 2, 3 and 4 against the Timberwolves, at a minimum. ⚽️ PSG 3, Arsenal 1: Paris Saint-Germain cruised into the Champions League final, where Inter Milan awaits. The French giants are seeking their first title, while Milan are seeking their fourth (1964-65, 2010). 🏒 Mammoth make it official: The Utah Hockey Club is now the Utah Mammoth. The franchise revealed its new identity on Wednesday, ending a yearlong process. 🏈 New WR2 in Dallas: The Cowboys acquired George Pickens from the Steelers, giving Dak Prescott another talented (albeit inconsistent) wideout alongside CeeDee Lamb. ⚾️ First to 25: Despite a laundry-list of injuries, the Dodgers just keep winning, becoming the first team to reach 25 wins (25-12) after trouncing the Marlins, 10-1. March Madness was lacking this year. Turns out all the lower-seed upsets, improbable comebacks and frantic finishes were merely postponed a couple months. Welcome to May Madness. Oops, they did it again: The Knicks completed a 20-point comeback for the second time in three nights to stun the Celtics, 91-90, and go up 2-0 on the defending champs. The Celtics held the Knicks scoreless for nearly five minutes to start the game and their 20-point lead in the third quarter felt comfortable. Then came the final period. New York broke open a 21-4 run in the fourth quarter while Boston essentially shut down, going more than eight minutes without a field goal at one point. Déjà vu: The 20-point comeback wasn't the only thing that felt familiar in Game 2. Like Game 1, the Celtics made exactly 25% of their 3-point attempts (15-for-60 in Game 1, 10-for-40 in Game 2, 25-for-100 overall) and Mikal Bridges made another game-sealing defensive play in the final seconds. What are we witnessing? Before this year, the NBA had never seen a 60-win team go down 2-0 in the second round of the playoffs since it expanded to 16 teams in 1984. It's now happened twice in the last two days; first the Cavs, now the Celtics. Meanwhile, in the nightcap… Thunder 149, Nuggets 106: OKC scored 87 first-half points (NBA playoff record) and steamrolled Denver to even the series. Eight Thunder had double-digit points, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 34 (on 11-13 FG). Go deeper… Celtics remain calm after another collapse: 'We can tie this thing back up' (Ben Rohrbach, Yahoo Sports) There are hot streaks, and there is whatever Mikko "The Moose" Rantanen is on right now. Man on fire: Rantanen recorded a hat trick on Wednesday (all in the second period) to lift the Stars past the Jets, 3-2, in their series opener. This comes after he scored a hat trick on Saturday (all in the third period) to beat the Avalanche, his former team, in Game 7. Some stats: He's the third player with hat tricks in consecutive playoff games, joining Jari Kurri (1985) and Doug Bentley (1944). He's the first player with multiple three-goal periods in the same postseason. He's scored or assisted on the Stars' last 12 playoff goals, the longest streak ever. Mario Lemieux is the next closest at nine. The backdrop: Rantanen, who leads the playoffs in goals (8) and points (15), took a winding road to get here. The Finnish forward began the season in Colorado before being traded to Carolina, who shipped him to Dallas 40 days later. That trade already came back to haunt the Avalanche. For the Stars, it's working out beautifully so far. Meanwhile, in Toronto… Maple Leafs 4, Panthers 3: Max Domi and Max Pacioretty each had a goal and an assist, and new dad Mitch Marner scored the tie-breaking goal to give Toronto a 2-0 lead over the defending champs. The series shifts to Florida for Game 3 tomorrow. For years, college sports leaders journeyed to the nation's capital by the dozens to lobby for congressional help amid a period of seismic change. Soon, the White House may step in, with a little help from a college football legend. From Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger: President Donald Trump is making plans to create a presidential commission on college athletics, the first step in what could be a months-long endeavor for solutions to the issues ailing the ecosystem, sources tell Yahoo Sports. Trump's involvement, though not surprising, is a landmark moment in college athletics history — the country's most powerful elected leader potentially shaping the future of the industry. Many college sports stakeholders have been briefed on the matter. It is unclear when an announcement could come. The commission is expected to deeply examine the unwieldy landscape of college sports, including the frequency of player movement in the transfer portal, the unregulated booster compensation paid to athletes, the employment debate, the application of Title IX to revenue-sharing payments and even conference membership and TV contracts. Nick Saban, a central figure in the fight for college sports legislation, is expected to be integral to the commission's work. He met with Trump during his visit to Tuscaloosa last week to give a graduation address at Alabama — a meeting that's now transformed into plans for this executive group to be formed. The backdrop: The White House's involvement comes amid stalled progress on Capitol Hill, where 13 congressional hearings about college sports have been held over the last five years with little to show for it. More than a dozen bills have been introduced — but none have reached debate on the Senate or House floor. Go deeper… Nick Saban, college sports czar? (Jay Busbee, Yahoo Sports) Three home teams will try to salvage a split tonight before heading on the road, with the Capitals hosting the Hurricanes (7pm ET, ESPN), the Timberwolves hosting the Warriors (8:30pm, TNT) and the Golden Knights hosting the Oilers (9:30pm, ESPN). More to watch: The PGA Tour's Truist Championship tees off at Philadelphia Cricket Club (11am, ESPN+; 2pm, Golf) … No. 8 Auburn hosts South Carolina on the diamond (7pm, ESPN2) … Montreal hosts Ottawa in Game 1 of the PWHL Semifinals (7pm, YouTube). The Mariners (22-14) have won nine straight series for the first time since 2001, when they tied the MLB record for wins in a season. Question: How many games did the 2001 Mariners win? 112 116 120 119 Answer at the bottom. Tyrese Haliburton is 10-for-11 on shots to tie or take the lead in the final two minutes this season (including 3-for-3 in the playoffs). Do you realize how ridiculous that is? Watch every shot. Trivia answer: 116 We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
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
01-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Conclave: What time will we see black or white smoke? Past elections give clues
Conclave: What time will we see black or white smoke? Past elections give clues On the first day of the conclave, a smoke signal could be expected around 7-8 p.m. local time (1-2 p.m. ET). The longest conclave took three years, while Pope Francis was elected after just one day. Show Caption Hide Caption Vatican announces conclave date on May 7 to elect a new pope The Roman Catholic College of Cardinals has agreed to begin a conclave May 7 to elect the next pope, per the Vatican. 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. 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. 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? 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. 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. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
