Vatican City, May 7, 2025 — Black smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel this evening, signaling that no new pope was elected in the first round of voting by the College of Cardinals. The smoke, produced by burning the ballots along with chemicals, indicates that no candidate received the required two-thirds majority.
The conclave, convened after Pope Francis’s resignation last month, brings together 118 cardinal-electors from around the world to choose the next leader of the Catholic Church. The voting takes place in strict secrecy inside the Sistine Chapel, with up to four ballots held each day until a decision is reached.
Thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square watched in silence as the smoke turned black, a centuries-old tradition that communicates the outcome of each ballot. The next signals from the chapel are expected tomorrow, with the world watching for the white smoke that will herald the election of a new pope.
