Conclave Continues: Cardinals Meet Again as Gray Smoke Indicates No Pope Chosen Yet

Live – Updated at 12:28 AM

Cardinals in the secret conclave are scheduled for another discussion session on Thursday after being unable to choose the next pope On the initial day of voting.

Dark smoke has billowed from the Sistine Chapel The chimney indicates that all 133 cardinal participants have cast their votes, though they haven't yet achieved the necessary two-thirds majority needed to select a new leader for the Church. Catholic Church.

The smoke serves as the sole visible indicator of the events unfolding. Papal Conclave After the cardinals submitted their phones and swore an oath of confidentiality, the Vatican disabled mobile phone towers to safeguard the proceedings.

The gathering commenced with a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning, where Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re implored that the cardinals receive inspiration to select "a Pope suited for our times."

In front of Michelangelo’s renowned depiction of paradise and perdition, the cardinals pledged to fulfill their grave responsibility of choosing a new Pope.

Among those favored to take over were Cardinals Pietro Parolin and Luis Antonio Tagle. Pope Francis, who made liberal modifications within the Catholic Church during his 12-year papacy.

Key Points

• Dark smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel.
• 'Extra omnes' is announced, beginning the conclave.
• Cardinals adhering to confidentiality rules based on their rank
• Why Is the Vatican Disabling Phone Signals Before the Conclave?
• Catholic priest states 'it remains anyone's speculation' before the vote for selecting the new Pope.
• How the voting ceremony functions

How lengthy is the conclave process?

21:46 , Jabed Ahmed

The longest papal election in history went on for almost three years; however, it's safe to expect that this one should take considerably less time.

This week, the Cardinals indicated they anticipate a brief conclave; however, it is expected to require several ballots before concluding.

A first round produced darks dark smoke that rose into Wednesday's night sky, sending a disappointed crowd to disperse in all directions.

Throughout much of the last hundred years, electing a new pope typically required anywhere from three to eight rounds of voting. In 1978, Pope John Paul I, whose papacy lasted only 33 days, was chosen on the third vote. Following him, his successor, Saint John Paul II, took eight votes before being selected in 1978 as well. When Pope Francis became pope in 2013, he was elected after five ballots.

The history behind popes' chosen names

21:28 , Jabed Ahmed

During the majority of the Catholic Church’s initial thousand years, popes utilized their birth names. The first deviation from this practice occurred in the 6th century when Mercurius, hailing from Rome and originally named after a pagan deity, opted for the more fitting name John II instead.

During the 11th century, the custom of taking on a new name took root, particularly among German popes who selected names associated with early church bishops as a way to "demonstrate continuity." This was according to the Rev. Roberto Regoli, a historian from Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University.

For many centuries, new popes tended to choose the name of the pope who had elevated them to cardinal. John was the most popular, chosen by 23 popes, followed by Benedict and Gregory, each with 16.

Only starting in the mid-20th century did new popes begin to choose names signaling the aim of their papacy, Regoli said.

"Even today, as we await the selection of the new pope, the name he chooses will provide insight into the direction he intends to pursue," Regoli stated.

Several names haven't been used for hundreds of years, such as Urban or Innocent.

I don't believe anybody will choose 'Innocent' considering the abuse and various scandals that have shaken the church," Imperatori-Lee stated. "I don't think that would be an appropriate selection.

Five reasons why previous non-European papal candidates have fallen short

20:59 , Jabed Ahmed

Five reasons why previous non-European papal candidates have fallen short

Complete report | Dark smoke observed above the Sistine Chapel following an inconclusive initial papal ballot.

20:39 , Jabed Ahmed

Dark smoke was observed above the Sistine Chapel following an inconclusive initial papal ballot.

Voting to resume tomorrow

20:25 , Jabed Ahmed

The anticipation continues as black smoke ascended from the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new pope has not been selected yet.

Voting is anticipated to continue on Thursday, with as many as four rounds conducted daily, consisting of two sessions in the morning and two in the afternoon.

Observe | The moment when the smoke signal indicates if a new Pope has been elected

20:11 , Jabed Ahmed

Shown | Dark smoke billows from the chapel's chimney

20:10 , Jabed Ahmed

Breaking | Dark smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel

20:04 , Jabed Ahmed

The cardinals participating in the secretive conclave to choose the new pope have completed their initial ballots but haven’t reached an agreement yet.

Dark smoke has billowed out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating that although all 133 participating cardinals have cast their votes, they haven't achieved the necessary two-thirds majority needed to select a new head for the Roman Catholic Church.

Waiting for the first smoke signal

19:59 , Jabed Ahmed

People filled the crowd of St. Peter’s Square as cardinals were locked in the Sistine Chapel, taking what was expected to be their first vote to choose a new pope.

They were waiting for smoke to waft from a chimney over the chapel: black for votes that fail to get a winner or white when they have one.

Tom Hallett, aged 65, traveled from Florida to Rome to see the election of a new pope.

"I believe he will be Italian because things haven't been this way since 1978," he said to AP.

He did not anticipate seeing white following the initial vote but still showed up. "It will be left to divine decision," he remarked.

Myra Beye, a 25-year-old woman originally from the Philippines but residing in Rome for several years, was anticipating the selection of Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

"That's why I'm here today, supporting him, although my thoughts will go out to whichever candidate wins," she stated.

Issues for the upcoming pope | Outreach to the LGBTQ+ community

19:37 , Jabed Ahmed

Francis notably stated, "Who am I to judge?" in response to questions in 2013 regarding an allegedly gay monsignor within the Vatican.

Francis aimed to reassure LGBTQ+ individuals that God accepts them for who they are, stating that "homosexuality is not a sin," and emphasizing that all people are welcomed within the church.

His replacement will have to choose between continuing that outreach effort or stepping back from it. Many people favor scaling it back.

In 2024, African bishops voiced their opposition across the continent to Pope Francis’s move permitting priests to bless same-sex unions. Additionally, bishops from various parts of the globe who attended his synod concerning the Church’s future refrained from using language that openly embraced LGBTQ+ individuals.

We aim for a unified Catholic Church, yet we need to adhere to the essentials," stated Ndyanabo, the Ugandan lay leader. "The Gospel shouldn’t be altered due to our personal frailties.

Rev. James Martin, aiming to create connections with LGBTQ+ Catholics, understands the level of resistance yet stays optimistic.

The task for the incoming pope is to carry forward Pope Francis' approach of engaging with those who have felt marginalized within their own religious community," Martin stated. "From what we gather at the synod, numerous cardinals believe there should be greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals due to their experiences within local parishes. However, just how extensive these changes will be remains uncertain.

The process of how the voting ceremony takes place.

19:18 , Jabed Ahmed

Every cardinal pens their selection on a document marked with the phrase "Eligo in summum pontificem" — "I choose as SupremePontiff."

One by one, they advance toward the altar and declare: "As my witness, I invoke Christ the Lord, who shall be my judge, that with integrity I cast my ballot for whomsoever I believe, in the sight of God, deserves to be chosen."

The creased ballot is positioned on a circular disk and then tilted into an egg-shaped silver and gold vessel. After being deposited, each vote is unfolded sequentially by three distinct “ scrutineers,” randomly chosen cardinals who record the names and announce them publicly.

Cardinals may maintain their individual count on a piece of paper supplied for this purpose; however, they must submit these notes to be destroyed after each round of voting.

The vote counters, whose calculations are reviewed by other cardinals known as scrutinizers, tally the outcomes of each voting session and record these totals on an individual document. This document is subsequently kept in the papal archives for safekeeping.

As the scrutineer reads out each name, he pierces each ballot with a needle through the word "Eligo" and binds them with thread and ties a knot.

The ballots are subsequently placed apart and burned in the chapel stove together with a chemical agent. This produces black smoke to indicate no decision was reached, or white smoke to signify that a new pope has been chosen.

From which countries do the 133 cardinals originate?

18:59 , Jabed Ahmed

Only cardinals below the age of 80 at the start of the conclave are allowed to participate, which narrows down the number of eligible participants to 135.

Out of these cardinals, two couldn't make it—the one from Spain and the other from Kenya—so a total of 133 cardinals will participate.

Here’s a brief overview of their origins.

Europe: 52

Not surprisingly, Italy leads with the highest number of cardinals at 17. Other European cardinals come from nations such as Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Hungary.

Asia and the Middle East: 23

The cardinals come from nations such as Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, India, and Japan.

Africa: 17

African cardinals hail from nations such as Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa.

North America: 16

Out of these, 10 originate from the United States, four come from Canada, and two are from Mexico.

South and Central America: 21

These cardinals hail from nations such as Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru.

Oceania: 4

There is one cardinal originating from each of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga.

Who are the Swiss Guards?

18:46 , Jabed Ahmed

The Swiss Guard has been a part of the Vatican for many years, yet their vividly striped yellow, blue, and red uniforms mask their genuine military expertise.

Since 1506, they have been an integral part of the Vatican’s security force and have occasionally been called the planet’s tiniest military unit.

As per the Encyclopedia Britannica, membership is restricted to Swiss Roman Catholics aged 19 to 30 who have completed basic training with the Swiss army.

Even though they are from Switzerland, these individuals are not part of the Swiss military; rather, they work for the Catholic Church.

The new pope needs to unite various factions, an expert claims.

18:31 , Jabed Ahmed

According to an emeritus professor of Catholic theology from the University of Bristol, the subsequent Pope needs to be someone capable of uniting various factions within the Catholic Church.

Professor Gavin D'Costa stated: "Despite the presence of political maneuvering and power dynamics within the conclave, similar to what occurs in any major organization—as illustrated in the recent movie 'Conclave'—the primary focus on prayer by the cardinals—and their main priority regarding the overall welfare of the Church—must remain distinct."

This assembly is more comprehensive in representation compared to any other gathering in the Church’s history, despite being unbalanced — featuring a greater number of European cardinals than those from any other continent, although there has been a decline in the Catholic population within Europe.

“The priority will be to select a Pope who embodies the common good, who can unite disparate groups within Catholics, and provide a vision of the Church that can be conducive to peace, cooperation and justice in a broken world.”

Pictured | Faithful pray at the Vatican

18:16 , Jabed Ahmed

An imposter gatecrashed the last conclave

17:56 , Jabed Ahmed

The latest conclave in 2013 had an unusual occurrence prior to the start of formal activities—a pretend cardinal managed to crash a preparatory gathering for cardinals.

The imposter was discovered attempting to infiltrate a meeting of cardinals wearing counterfeit religious garments and was subsequently removed from the Vatican grounds by the Swiss Guard.

It is claimed that he greeted priests with a handshake and introduced himself as "Basilius." Additionally, he supposedly informed his pretended fellow members that he belonged to the "Italian Orthodox Church" — an entity that doesn’t actually exist.

A guard spotted him because he had tied a pink scarf around his waist instead of the correct sashes typically worn by genuine cardinals.

Everyone's attention focused on the Sistine Chapel awaiting the smoke signal.

17:36 , Jabed Ahmed

Everyone's attention is focused on Vatican City for the indication of a new pontiff.

Smoke indicating whether or not the 267th pope has been chosen could come from the specially erected chimney of the Sistine Chapel as early as Wednesday evening.

Should dark smoke ascend above St. Peter’s Square, this would indicate that no candidate has secured the necessary two-thirds majority, prompting further voting sessions to continue on Thursday.

Up to four votes a day can take place from then, two in the morning and two in the afternoon, with white smoke confirming a new pope has been chosen.

Watch | key moments from the funeral of Pope Francis

17:18 , Jabed Ahmed

Just over a week ago, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Rome and the Vatican to farewell the much-loved Pope Francis.

These are the crucial moments from that historic funeral.

Observe: Cardinals pledge confidentiality

16:59 , Rachel Clun

The conclave has started, however, prior to this, the cardinals had all taken vows of confidentiality in Latin.

Watch that ceremony here:

'Extra omnes' is announced, beginning the conclave.

16:43 , Rachel Clun

Archbishop Diego Ravelli has said “Extra omnes,” which means “all out” in Latin.

This indicates that everybody who isn't qualified to vote needs to exit the Sistine Chapel.

The entrances will be shut and formally secured, enabling the proceedings of the conclave to commence.

The term conclave originates from the Latin phrase "con clave," signifying 'with a key'.

In images: Moments from the Vatican as the conclave starts

16:38 , Rachel Clun

A large crowd has assembled at St. Peter's Basilica to observe the rituals preceding the commencement of the conclave.

The cardinals are still taking their vows.

Cardinals adhering to confidentiality rules based on their rank

16:26 , Rachel Clun

Currently, the cardinals are observing the vow of secrecy prior to the commencement of the conclave.

Vatican News mentions they are proceeding according to their level of experience.

The first was Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who has served as the Vatican’s secretary of state for over ten years. Prior to the passing of Pope Francis, he held the position of the second-highest-ranking official within the Catholic Church.

In images: Devoted followers observe the start of the conclave from St. Peter's Square

16:14 , Rachel Clun

Loyal visitors, along with tourists and members of the press, assembled in St. Peter’s Square to observe as the cardinals participated in the final rite preceding the commencement of the conclave.

The oath of confidentiality is currently being recited.

16:01 , Rachel Clun

The pledge that all 133 cardinals have to take is currently being recited.

The pledge is in Latin, yet every cardinal has to vow to maintain the secrecy surrounding the papal election, including their decision-making process, unless the newly elected pope chooses for the discussions to be disclosed publicly.

Every cardinal must now take their oath while laying their hand on the Gospel book.

Cardinals kneel before crucifix in Sistine Chapel

15:42 , Rachel Clun

As the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel, they bow together in pairs before the altar.

Hanging behind the altar is a crucifix, with Michelangelo’s Jesus the Judge fresco located further back.

In short, they will take their vows before the conclave can commence.

The parade into the Sistine Chapel begins

15:34 , Rachel Clun

The cardinals are making their way slowly past the Swiss Guards in a brief procession as they head into the Sistine Chapel.

Leading with a crucifix, the clerics recite the Litany of the Saints as they guide the 133 cardinal electors into the chapel.

What occurs prior to the commencement of the conclave?

15:27 , Rachel Clun

The assembly will begin soon.

As mentioned earlier, the cardinals have gathered for the final ceremony before their secret deliberations begin.

Shortly, they will participate in an oath-taking ceremony: pledging confidentiality and committing to fulfill their responsibilities.

Following that, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamissa, who was once the preacher for the Papal Household before retiring, will give a meditation.

The head of papal liturgies, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, will subsequently call out "Extra omnes," which means "everyone out" in Latin.

Those who aren’t qualified to vote exit, and the chapel doors shut, enabling the proceedings to start.

Watch live: final ceremony before conclave is underway

15:25 , Rachel Clun

The cardinals have gathered for the final ceremony before their secret deliberations begin.

A guide to history’s most unusual Conclaves

14:50 , Rachel Clun

Conclaves to elect a new pope come with some 800 years of history, and not all of those papal elections have been orderly affairs.

Ranging from brawls to practical jokes, here’s a glimpse at some of the most bizarre conclaves throughout history.

A guide to history’s most unusual Conclaves - as the next papal election begins

The senior cardinal states that the new pope should be 'the Pope that our era requires.'

14:32 , Rachel Clun

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re stated that the selection of the new pope "does not represent merely a change from one individual to another" during his sermon at Mass today.

"Let us pray that the Holy Spirit, who over the past century has granted us a succession of genuinely devout and remarkable Popes, may bestow upon the Church and all of humanity a new Pope after God's own heart," he stated.

Let us hope that God grants the Church a Pope capable of stirring the consciences and moral and spiritual strengths of everyone in our present-day society, marked by significant technological advancements yet prone to overlooking God.

He mentioned again that the world today demands much from the Church, especially regarding the protection of spiritual values.

Let the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of the Church, use her compassionate intersession to guide the thoughts of the cardinal electors, aiding them in choosing the Pope who our era requires.

The senior cardinal states that the Church requires a new pope capable of leading during this challenging and intricate period in history.

14:14 , Rachel Clun

Previously, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who serves as the Dean of the College of Cardinals, conducted a special Mass for the election of the Pope before the cardinal electors entered the confidential conclave.

In his homily, Re said the cardinal electors were undertaking “an act of the highest human and ecclesial responsibility”, and were faced with a choice “of exceptional importance”.

"We have gathered to seek the assistance of the Holy Spirit, pleading for His guidance and fortitude, ensuring that the Pope chosen will be one who meets the needs of both the Church and humanity during this challenging and intricate juncture in our history," stated Re.

Why Is the Vatican Disabling Phone Signals Before the Conclave?

14:00 , Rachel Clun

Cell phone connections interrupted, signal jamming devices activated, and enhanced security measures implemented: the Vatican is demonstrating an extreme commitment to maintaining confidentiality during the conclave.

Shortly, the 133 cardinal electors will swear an oath of confidentiality as they prepare to enter the conclave aimed at choosing the new Pope. This follows the similar pledges made by around 100 supporting personnel who will assist them throughout their discussions.

But the Vatican has taken other measures to ensure no news of the deliberations inside the chapel leaks out before the white smoke signal rises over the Sistine Chapel roof.

The governor of Vatican City’s office announced on Monday that the telephone towers within the city-state will be switched off at 3 PM Rome time (2 PM UK time) on Wednesday.

Find out more details about the safety measures surrounding the conclave below:

Why the Vatican Will Disable Phone Signals Before the Secret Conclave Vote

The Roman tailors for the Popes

13:47 , Rachel Clun

Two Roman tailors have also been pondering about whom will take charge of the Catholic Church.

Ahead of previous conclaves, the tailors had been asked to provide white cassocks in three sizes - small, medium and large - so that the newly elected Pope can get changed before their first public appearance as pontiff.

Raniero Mancinelli, who has been involved with papal vestments since the early 1960s, mentioned that he has prepared three garments for donation to the Vatican regardless.

He mentioned that various Popes have exhibited differing tastes, even when it comes to the caliber of fabrics employed.

"Francis preferred things that were much simpler and practical," Mancinelli said inside his shop, just down the street from one of the Vatican's main entrance gates. "Ratzinger [Pope Benedict XVI] liked slightly more choice fabrics."

Lorenzo Gammarelli, who owns an ecclesiastical tailoring shop in central Rome for the sixth generation, remembered the family story stating that when John XXIII was chosen as pope, his cassock was too short.

Gammarelli stated that they needed to step in discreetly, using pins to extract it so he could show up on the balcony.

Lead contenders to become the next pope include Pietro Parolin.

13:17 , Rachel Clun

Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin has been mentioned in almost every shortlist of potential candidates for becoming the next pope.

Parolin has served as the Vatican’s secretary of state for the last 12 years, making him the second highest-ranking figure in the Catholic Church following the Pope.

As the chief diplomat for the Vatican, his position has allowed him to interact frequently with cardinals globally—both within their own nations and in Rome—which means he is familiar to each of the other 132 potential voters heading into the conclave.

The 70-year-old, originally from a small town in the northern Italian region of Veneto, is said to be a steady administrator who could bring calm after three at-times tempestuous papacies.

The Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera indicates that he might already be backed by as many as 50 cardinals before they go into seclusion later today.

Learn more about Parolin below:

Who is Pietro Parolin? The softly spoken diplomat who could become the next Pope.

Leading candidates to become the next pope include: Pierbattista Pizzaballa

13:00 , Rachel Clun

Insiders suggest that another potential candidate for the papacy could be an Italian named Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who currently holds the position of Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The 60-year-old is among the younger cardinals considered potential successors to Pope Francis, yet he has become a favorite partly due to his position as the head of Catholic affairs in the Holy Land. This region has been particularly prominent because of current geopolitical tensions between Israel and Gaza on the world stage.

Selecting Pizzaballa would represent a notable geopolitical stance by the Church, especially considering its past criticisms of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Pope Francis held him in high regard, and Pizzaballa is recognized as an accomplished diplomat along with being a prominent Biblical scholar.

Who are the Swiss Guards?

12:42 , Rachel Clun

For many years, the Swiss Guard has been an integral part of the Vatican, yet their strikingly colorful outfits featuring bold stripes of yellow, blue, and red mask their extensive military expertise.

Since 1506, they have been an integral part of the Vatican’s security system and have occasionally been dubbed the world's tiniest military force.

As per the Encyclopedia Britannica, membership is restricted to Swiss Roman Catholics aged from 19 to 30 who have completed primary service in the Swiss army.

Even though they are from Switzerland, these individuals are not part of the Swiss military; rather, they work for the Catholic Church.

Italian police and Swiss Guards have been deployed as precautions before the conclave.

12:24 , Rachel Clun, AP

A multitude of Italian law enforcement agents, encompassing both regular police forces and the carabinieri, along with the Vatican’s Swiss Guard, have been deployed to boost security measures at the Vatican during the conclave.

On Wednesday, police conducted thorough inspections of individuals entering St. Peter's Square, coinciding with the cardinals' attendance at a special pre-conclave Mass within the Basilica.

Over 4,000 police officers have been dispatched, along with an advanced anti-drone setup and signal jamming equipment designed to prevent any external communications for the cardinals once they begin their private conclave.

Fabiociciliano, who leads Italy’s Civil Protection agency, stated that ensuring the safety of the cardinals is crucial, as is protecting those outside.

A Catholic clergyman states 'it remains anyone's speculation' before the vote for selecting the new Pope.

12:07 , Rachel Clun

A clergyman and Catholic commentator indicates that at this point it was purely speculative as to who might be elected as the new Pope.

A gathering of 133 cardinals hailing from 70 different nations needs to achieve a two-thirds majority agreement, which means at least 89 religious leaders have to consent to select the individual who will helm the Catholic Church.

Jesuit priest Father Thomas Reese told the BBC it was “all guessing at this point”.

"If the conclave concludes swiftly, it will likely be one of the front-runners such as Cardinal Parolin, who currently serves as the Secretary of State; however, at this juncture, it remains anyone's speculation," he stated.

'Tagle-core' takes over social media as Generation Z rallies behind Asian cardinal for pope

11:22 , Rachel Clun

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle appears to be the top choice for TikTok users hoping to see him become the new pope.

Several videos of the Filipino cleric have gone viral on the social media platform, including one titled ‘Tagle-core’ stitching together clips o the Cardinal.

In another instance, he addresses a Polish congregation and confesses that he only knows a handful of words in Polish — including the word 'vodka'.

A commentator remarked, "Should he be elected as pope, an increased number of young people would likely grow nearer to the Church due to his vibrant charm."

Another said: “I like this guy, he has sense of humor, would be a good Pope.”

Where are the 133 cardinals from?

10:39 , Rachel Clun

Only cardinals below the age of 80 at the start of the conclave are allowed to participate, which narrows down the number of eligible cardinals to 135.

Out of these cardinals, two were absent—one from Spain and another from Kenya—so 133 cardinals will participate.

Here’s a brief overview of their origins.

Europe: 52

Not surprisingly, Italy leads in the number of cardinals with a total of 17. Other European cardinals come from countries such as Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Hungary.

Asia and the Middle East: 23

These cardinals are from countries including Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, India and Japan.

Africa: 17

The African cardinals come from countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa.

North America: 16

Of these, 10 are from the United States, four are from Canada and two are from Mexico.

South and Central America: 21

These cardinals come from nations such as Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru.

Oceania: 4

There is one cardinal hailing from each of the following countries: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga.

Watch: Cardinals hold closing Mass before gathering for papal election conclave

10:31 , Rachel Clun

Cardinals along with various clergymen have attended a Mass at St. Peter's Basilica before the commencement of the conclave.

The dean of cardinals urges for an energetic pope who cherishes unity in diversity.

10:10 , Rachel Clun

A high-ranking cardinal has encouraged the cardinals who will soon start the conclave to select the next pope to set their individual agendas aside and opt for someone who values unity within variety.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who serves as the dean of the College of Cardinals, led a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica before the commencement of the conclave scheduled for later today.

At 91 years of age, Re emphasized that being considered too old to participate would be inappropriate. He reminded the cardinals that the conclave holds supreme importance for the Church and advised them to put aside "all personal considerations."

During his sermon in Italian, he stated that the newly elected pope ought to promote cohesion within the church.

The cardinals were advised to choose someone “who the Church and humanity require during this challenging, intricate, and tumultuous juncture in history,” according to Le Parisien.

"Let us pray that God grants the Church a Pope who will be able to awaken the consciences of all, as well as the moral and spiritual energies in today's society, characterised by great technological progress, but which tends to forget God.”

Pre-conclave mass is underway

09:28 , Rachel Clun

The last mass before the cardinals begin their conclave is underway at St Peter’s Basilica this morning.

In attendance are the cardinal electors, Catholic bishops and members of the Catholic Church.

The way the voting ritual works

07:46 , Angus Thompson

Every cardinal pens their selection on a document marked with the phrase "Eligo in summum pontificem" — "I choose as Supreme Pontiff."

One by one, they make their way to the altar and declare: "I invoke as my witness, Christ the Lord who shall be my judge, that my vote is cast for the person whom, in God’s presence, I believe ought to be chosen."

The creased ballot is positioned on a circular dish and then tilted into an egg-shaped silver and gold vessel. After being deposited, each vote is unfolded sequentially by three distinct “ scrutineers,” randomly chosen cardinals who record the names and announce them publicly.

Cardinals may maintain their individual count on a piece of paper supplied for this purpose, but they must submit these notes to be destroyed after the conclusion of the voting process.

The officials responsible for verifying votes have their work reviewed by other cardinals known as revisors. They subsequently tally the outcomes from each voting session and record these totals on an individual document, which is kept secure within the papal archives.

As the scrutineer reads out each name, he pierces each ballot with a needle through the word "Eligo" and binds them with thread and ties a knot.

The voting papers are set apart and later burned in the chapel stove together with a substance that generates black smoke to indicate no decision was reached, or white smoke to signify that a new pope has been chosen.

View: significant moments from Pope Francis' funeral

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 11:58 PM , Rachel Clun

A little more than a week past, hundreds of thousands assembled in Rome and at the Vatican to bid farewell to the dearly beloved Pope Francis.

These are the crucial points from that memorable funeral.