Black Smoke Rises as First Day of Papal Conclave Ends: Pope Not Chosen Yet – Live Updates
Dark smoke rose above the Vatican in Rome during the nighttime on Wednesday, indicating that the papal conclave had not reached an agreement on electing a new pope. Pope Francis - And the cardinals will come together again at the Sistine Chapel on Thursday.
Tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square as night descended, everyone focused on the distinctive chapel’s rooftop for signs of smoke. The crowd had to endure an extended wait—over three hours past the commencement of the conclave—before the telltale sign finally emerged.
∎ On Wednesday morning, a somber parade of 133 cardinal electors from around the world filed quietly into the chapel, intoning the " Litany of the Saints. " Each cardinal then spoke aloud their vow to adhere strictly to the guidelines set for the conclave.
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When the doors were finally shut, the cardinals entered seclusion. for the first round of voting.
∎ The covert procedure is anticipated to last several days and will result in new leadership for the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics.
Given that there isn't an obvious frontrunner for the election, the initial indication is expected to be a black smoke signal.
On Wednesday evening, the initial smoke signal signaling whether a new Pope had been selected rose above the Italian skyline, and unsurprisingly, it was black, signifying that no consensus had yet been achieved.
It was improbable for a swift conclusion in a meeting where no obvious frontrunner emerged to take charge. Pope Francis And varying opinions on whether the church should adhere to the progressive course he established or adopt a more conservative trajectory.
Even though he was not widely known at the time, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio from Argentina secured the necessary two-thirds majority vote within just under two days, making him the first Latin American pope in 2013. Currently, the global community waits expectantly for the appearance of the white smoke, which will indicate that a new pope has been chosen.
Cardinal Dolan from New York anticipates the conclave will take around 3 to 4 days.
The day prior to when the electors were isolated for the conclave, an American cardinal provided insight into the confidential procedure of selecting a new pontiff, mentioning that this time around it might last between three to four days partly due to the large number of deserving contenders.
Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York and one of 10 American cardinals taking part in the election, mentioned on Tuesday during an interview with SiriusXM’s Catholic Channel that those involved discuss among themselves to gain deeper insights into candidates whom they may not be thoroughly familiar with.
We’re not engaging in horse trades here," Dolan stated. "What we want is for you to tell us more about this person. Since you come from Latin America, go over the list of bishops with us. Share insights about some of them. Does this individual genuinely captivate me?
Dolan recounted a discussion he had with his acquaintance Giuseppe Betori, an Italian cardinal who acted as the Archbishop of Florence between 2008 and 2024. He mentioned finding it beneficial to gain insights from Betori regarding Italian cardinals and bishops, while also exchanging views on potential American candidates.
Given that 108 out of the 133 cardinal electors joined the voting pool during Pope Francis' 12 years in office, and with at least 25 hailing from nations that have not participated previously, these interactions could now hold greater significance than ever before in an election widely seen as unpredictable.
People ask, 'Do you find it difficult to pick a candidate?' " Dolan stated. "And I respond, 'Yes, precisely because there are so many options available.'
Advanced techniques safeguard confidentiality for an age-old ceremony.
Electors have been prohibited from interacting with people outside during conclaves since the Middle Ages. To align with modern practices, the Vatican has implemented advanced techniques to maintain confidentiality, such as employing signal-jamming equipment.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who leads the College of Cardinals, conducted the morning Mass marking the beginning of the papal election process at St. Peter's Basilica. During his address, he emphasized the importance of unity through faith and prayers, noting that the incoming Pope will confront a challenging, intricate, and tumultuous period in world affairs.
Cardinal Robert McElroy, who leads the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., described the conclave process as "deeply profound and enigmatic." He stated regarding potential frontrunners to take over after Pope Francis: "I have nothing to share about who might be leading."
Over 200 out of the 266 popes originated from Italy. However, it has now been 47 years since an Italian pope last led the church. Francis became the first pope from Latin America, with none having come from the U.S. so far. Many cardinal candidates from Italy and various countries are seen as contenders .
When does the new pope get chosen?
It has been centuries since a candidate emerged with the two-thirds majority required to become pope on the first ballot. The cardinals can vote only once Wednesday, then likely will need to reconvene Thursday morning A Mass will take place in the Pauline Chapel prior to their return to the Sistine Chapel for mid-morning prayers and the day’s series of votes. Each day allows for up to four vote tallies.
After the ballots are cast on Thursday evening, there will be a prayer session followed by returning to their accommodations at Casa Santa Marta. Should the votes not yield a candidate with a two-thirds majority, they will reconvene for additional rounds of balloting on Friday and continue doing so until a pope is elected.
Once a cardinal secures the necessary votes and consents to assume the significant responsibility, white smoke will indicate his election.
Leading candidates for pope: Who is most likely to become the next pope?
Among those often discussed as potential successors to Pope Francis are two prominent figures: Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, from the Philippines—a progressive leader occasionally dubbed “Francis 2”—and Péter Erdő, 72, from Hungary—who is particularly favored by more conservative cardinals.
Myra Beye, a devoted follower of Tagle, has resided in Rome for many years but hails from the Philippines. "That's why I'm attending this event—to show my support," said Beye, aged 25, as reported by the Associated Press at St. Peter's Square. She added, "Even so, I'll pray for whichever candidate gets elected."
So far, out of 266 popes, 217 have been Italian. This time around, Italy also boasts several promising candidates, such as Pietro Parolin, aged 70, who serves as the Vatican Secretary of State and is seen as a moderate figure, and Matteo Zuppi, 69 years old, known for his closeness to Pope Francis.
What is typically the duration of a conclave?
A single round of voting is anticipated for Wednesday, followed by as many as four additional rounds potentially occurring daily thereafter. While there isn’t a fixed duration for the conclave, recent instances have typically spanned just a handful of days. Over the last 12 papal selections since 1846, cardinals have required between two to five days to reach their decision.
Rev. Patrick Flanagan, an associate professor of theology and religious studies at St. John’s University in New York, states that Gregory X emphasized that conclaves should be centered around efficiency and speed.
Flanagan explained that as per the initial guidelines, if a pope hadn’t been chosen within three days, cardinals were limited to just one course during their meals. After eight days without an election, they would be allowed only bread, wine, and water!
How long did the longest papal conclave last in history?
After Pope Clement IV passed away in November 1268, cardinals convened Viterbo, Italy About 68 miles away from Rome, they gathered to elect a new pope. The position remained empty for nearly three years due to ongoing disputes. Angered by the delay, the residents of Viterbo eventually confined the cardinals within their city. Episcopal Palace and “even removed the roof "To leave them exposed to the elements, aiming to speed up the decision-making process," as reported by ucatholic.com.
The ultimate victor, Gregory X, strengthened the regulations governing conclaves. The most prolonged conclave of recent history occurred in 1903, concluding with the selection of Pope Pius X. after five days .
The most frequent papal names include: John, Gregory, Benedict, and Pius.
The initial act for the newly elected pope will be to select a name. Throughout the annals of papal history, the most frequently adopted name has been John, which was initially selected back in 523 by Pope Saint John I. the Vatican says The most recent pope to select that name was Italian Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, who became Pope John XXIII when he was elected in 1958. In 2014, Roncalli was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis.
Other common names include Gregory, honoring Pope Gregory I, widely recognized as Saint Gregory the Great (590-604). The most recent pontiff with this name was Gregory XVI back in 1831. Meanwhile, Benedict has been selected 16 times, such as when Joseph Ratzinger from Germany became pope after Francis, taking the name Benedict XVI in 2005.
Other commonly used papal names include Clement, Innocent, Leo, and Pius. Between 1775 and 1958, seven out of eleven popes bore the name Pius, ranging from Pope Pius VI (1775–1799) to Pope Pius XII (1939–1958).
Swiss Guard, the papal champions of the 1500s
The Swiss Guard, the pope’s iconic bodyguards , are safeguarding the Sistine Chapel As cardinals gather to choose a new pontiff. The guards appear ceremonial in their Renaissance-era costumes, which pay tribute to the final desperate defense they once mounted to protect a pontiff. According to Bry Jensen, a historian and podcaster who focuses on the papacy, this signifies their readiness to fulfill such duties anew.
In 1527, rebellious troops from the Holy Roman Empire, angered by lack of payment, assaulted Rome. This assault occurred during a period when sentiments against the Church were intensifying across Europe.
"Of the 189 Swiss Guards, including their commanding officer, 147 perished to provide Pope Clement VII with sufficient time to flee," stated Jensen, who hosts the show. Pontifacts show , told USA TODAY. Read more here .
What is the process for casting votes?
Here are the details of the electoral procedure as stated by the Vatican:
Each cardinal pens the name of their selected nominee on a voting slip, folds it, raises it high, and proceeds to the altar according to their hierarchy. Then, the cardinal deposits the folded paper onto a dish placed over a chalice and utters these words in Italian: “ I invoke Christ the Lord as my witness, who shall be my judge, that I cast my vote for the one I believe ought to be elected, in accordance with God’s will.”
The cardinal then uses the plate to drop the vote into the chalice, bows to the altar and returns to his seat. Cardinals who are unable to walk give their folded ballot to a "scrutineer," who follows the same procedure without reciting the oath again.
If any cardinal is too unwell to attend the chapel, they receive ballot papers and a locked container featuring a slot for inserting their folded vote. After casting their ballots, these individuals' designated representatives transport the box back to the chapel, where it is opened in view of all participating electors. The contained votes are then tallied and combined with those already placed inside the primary urn.
What is the process for counting papal election ballots?
After all votes have been cast, one of three scrutineers shakes the chalice to mix the ballots. Another scrutineer then counts them, transferring them into an empty container. If the number of ballots doesn’t match the number of voters, all ballots are burned and a new vote is held immediately. If the count is correct, the ballots are opened and read.
The scrutineers sit at a table before the altar. The first reads the name written on a ballot and passes it to the second, who confirms the name and hands it to the third, who reads it aloud for everyone to hear and records the vote.
After all the ballots have been counted and the votes totaled, the last scrutineer punctures each one using a needle and strings them together with thread. They tie off the ends of the thread into knots, then securely store the ballots. The vote tally is confirmed and double-checked. Once this process is complete, as the electors depart from the Sistine Chapel, they incinerate all the ballots inside an iron stove.
The article initially appeared on USA TODAY: No pope selected as black smoke signals conclusion of conclave’s initial day: Live updates
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