Black smoke pours from Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating conclave hasn’t elected pope in first vote

Black smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025. (AP)
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  • The smoke billowed out at 9 p.m. Wednesday
  • They return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday morning

VATICAN CITY: Black smoke is pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating no pope was elected on the first ballot of the conclave to choose a new leader of the Catholic Church.
The smoke billowed out at 9 p.m. Wednesday, some four hours after 133 cardinals solemnly entered the Sistine Chapel, took their oaths of secrecy and formally opened the centuries-old ritual to elect a successor to Pope Francis to lead the 1.4 billion-member church.
With no one securing the necessary two-thirds majority, or 89 votes, the cardinals will retire for the night to the Vatican residences where they are being sequestered.
They return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday morning.

Topics: Vatican pope Sistine Chapel