Cardinals Begin Conclave to Elect New Pope Following Pope Francis's Death

On May 7, 2025, the College of Cardinals convened in the Sistine Chapel to commence the conclave for electing the 267th pope, succeeding Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. The day began with a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, followed by a solemn procession into the Sistine Chapel, where the 133 cardinal electors took oaths of secrecy and participated in the first round of voting.The Guardian+3Vatican News+3People.com+3Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre+3The Guardian+3Wikipedia+3

At 9:00 p.m. local time, black smoke emerged from the chapel's chimney, indicating that no candidate had achieved the required two-thirds majority (89 votes) to be elected pope. This outcome was anticipated, as initial ballots in papal conclaves often do not result in an immediate decision. The cardinals are scheduled to continue deliberations with up to four voting sessions per day until a new pope is chosen.Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre+20AP News+20New York Post+20The Washington Post+4People.com+4AP News+4

The conclave is being closely watched worldwide, with thousands gathering in St. Peter's Square and many more following live broadcasts. The process remains steeped in tradition, with strict confidentiality and symbolic rituals, such as the smoke signals, marking each stage of the election.AP News+1Investing.com+1