A dense cloud of black smoke drifted from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday evening, signaling to tens of thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square that the first round of voting in the papal conclave ended without agreement on a new pope.
As the world watches with bated breath, 133 cardinals—dubbed the “Princes of the Church”—remain cloistered within Vatican City, preparing for a second day of deliberations to determine the successor to the late Pope Francis.
Housed overnight in the Santa Marta guesthouse, the cardinals attended a private morning mass Thursday to seek divine guidance before resuming the secretive, centuries-old election process. If no candidate secures a two-thirds majority in the morning’s first vote, another round will follow—and potentially two more in the afternoon if a consensus remains elusive.
Bound by an oath of secrecy, the cardinals are isolated from the outside world until a new leader is chosen for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. Their only form of communication with the public: the traditional burning of ballots. Special chemicals tint the smoke—black if there’s no decision, white when a pope is elected.
The Wednesday night plume of black drew a disappointed yet hopeful reaction from pilgrims, clergy, and curious onlookers who had filled the square in the fading Roman light.
“I’m not disheartened—it means the Holy Spirit is guiding them. We’ll see white smoke soon,” said James Kleineck, a 37-year-old visitor from Texas.
Barbara Mason, a 50-year-old Canadian pilgrim, echoed the sentiment, praising the cardinals’ caution. “If they’re taking time, it means they’re choosing wisely. I’m hopeful they continue Francis’s legacy. Cardinal Zuppi comes to mind.”
This 2025 conclave is unprecedented in its size and diversity, gathering cardinals from around 70 nations. Yet despite speculation, no frontrunner has emerged, with factions in the Church split between progressive reform and doctrinal conservatism.
The road ahead for the new pontiff will be formidable. He will inherit not only theological and political divisions within the Church but also ongoing fallout from decades-long clerical abuse scandals and waning attendance in Western churches.
Wednesday began with a grand procession of cardinals through the Vatican’s Pauline Chapel into the Sistine Chapel, surrounded by Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes. The event was streamed live to the square, where anticipation grew as the chapel’s doors closed, signaling the start of the sacred vote.
During an earlier mass, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who no longer votes due to age, addressed the Church’s moment of reflection.
“We implore the Holy Spirit for clarity and strength in choosing a shepherd for our times,” he said. “The world and the Church need a leader for this critical juncture in history.”
Roughly 80 percent of the electors were appointed by Pope Francis, known for his compassion and progressive vision. But the College of Cardinals remains divided, with competing hopes—some want to build on Francis’s mission, while others seek a return to stricter orthodoxy.
Names circulating as potential successors include Italy’s Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Hungary’s Péter Erdő, and Sri Lanka’s Malcolm Ranjith. But with no clear consensus, the conclave may stretch on beyond two days—the length of the last two elections—or perhaps echo past votes that extended weeks or even years.
Until then, the world will keep its eyes on the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, awaiting that longed-for wisp of white smoke.
