Papal Conclave update: Black smoke signals no decision on new Pope | 10 key points

Black smoke poured out from the Sistine Chapel's chimney, indicating that the cardinals have not been able to pick a new pontiff. White smoke refers to the cardinals agreeing on a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month.

Garvit Bhirani
Published8 May 2025, 08:59 AM IST
Black smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the cardinals' conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo)
Black smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the cardinals' conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo)(AP)

Vatican city: Crowds of people flocked to St Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Wednesday evening for the first vote of the papal conclave, the results of which took more than three hours to declare. Black smoke poured out from the Sistine Chapel's chimney, indicating that the cardinals have not been able to pick a new pontiff. White smoke refers to the cardinals agreeing on a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month.

Cardinals fail to elect new pontiff: What we know so far

  1. Many in thousands had gathered to wait for the result of the first vote, which lasted nearly three hours.

2. Cardinals surrendered their mobile phones and airwaves around the Vatican were jammed to prevent communication until a new pontiff is chosen. 

3. A plume of black smoke was seen from the Sistine Chapel, meaning the 133 cardinals have still to the two thirds majority required to appoint the next pontiff.

4. Twice a day, the ballots will be burned as a traditional symbol for the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, according to Bloomberg.

Also Read | Cardinals begin Conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor

5. The cardinals will stay behind closed doors until a clear decision is made on the election of the 267th pope, who will be entrusted with leading the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, AFP reported.

6. Bound by centuries-old tradition, they are under strict vows of secrecy, with excommunication as the penalty for any breach.

7. As the vote extended into dinnertime, some left annoyed, but those who remained erupted in cheers when the smoke finally emerged.

8. “My hope is that cardinals will choose a man who can be a peacemaker and could reunify the church,” AP quoted Gabriel Capry, a 27-year-old from London as saying.

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9. Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle, 67, Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72 are some names kept showing on lists of “papabile,” or cardinals for the qualities to be pope, according to AP. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State under Pope Francis and a prominent candidate to succeed him as pope, took charge of the proceedings as the highest-ranking cardinal under the age of 80 and eligible to take part in the conclave, PTI reported.

10. The biggest and most geographically diverse conclave in history was due to resume on Thursday, a Reuters report said.

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