The first day of the conclave to select a new pope has ended without a successor being named.
Black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine chapel, indicating that Cardinals failed to find a winner on the first ballot.
Voting is continuing on Thursday in the secretive, centuries-old ritual until a decision is made.
Here’s what comes next.
when time does the conclave resume?
The conclave is continuing its efforts on Thursday (local time), when the cardinals will be able to vote up to four times before retiring until the next day.
The first vote in Vatican City took place around 10.30am (local time), with no selection made.
The second vote was also unsuccessful, with black smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel chimney.
Two more ballots will take place on Thursday at about 5.30pm and 7pm, local times.
Smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel up to twice a day, after the morning and afternoon sessions.
This process will continue every day until a candidate achieves a two-thirds majority.
Here’s a rundown of the remaining smoke timings in AEST:
- Friday 1.30am: Smoke will only appear if a pope is elected (white)
- FRIDAY 3AM: Smoke will appear in black or white
If a pope has not been selected by Saturday afternoon, the cardinals will take Sunday off for prayer, quiet reflection and informal discussion.
What colour is the smoke for a new pope?
White.
It means a decision on a choice for the next pontiff has been made amongst the cardinals.
When will we know who the next pope is?
It’s impossible to put an exact date on how long the conclave will last.
However, analysts expect the decision won’t take longer than a few days.
The past two papal elections were decided in just two days.
Cardinals attend the first day of the conclave. (AP: Vatican Media)
Cardinals consult Conclave film ahead of vote
Ahead of the 2025 conclave, Catholic cardinals have reportedly consulted Edward Berger’s 2024 acclaimed drama film of the same name.
According to Politico, several cardinals who are part of the ongoing conclave admitted to watching the film to learn more about the process of selecting a new pope.
“Some have watched [Conclave] in the cinema,” a cleric told Politico.
The outlet added that “the film is seen as remarkably accurate even by cardinals” and has been useful “at a time when so many of the conclave participants have little experience of Vatican politics and protocol”.
A majority of the cardinals who gathered in Rome in the weeks since the death of Pope Francis were appointed by the late pontiff, and have never experienced a conclave.
during his 12-year pontificate, Pope Francis appointed 80 per cent of the 133 cardinals eligible to vote.
Who are the cardinals?
There are 133 cardinals participating in the conclave.
This year’s conclave is the most geographically diverse ever, representing 72 countries, many in the global south. It will be the first papal conclave in which fewer than half the voting cardinals are European.
Here’s the composition of cardinals based on geographical location:
- Europe: 52
- Africa: 17
- North America: 16
- Central America: 4
- South America: 17
- Asia: 23
- Oceania: 4
To choose the new pope, two-thirds of the 133 cardinals must agree on a name, meaning the winner will need at least 89 votes.
Where do cardinals sleep during the conclave?
They live in the Santa Marta housea five-storey guesthouse with 106 suites, 22 single rooms and a state apartment.
Pope Francis lived in suite 201 during his papacy.
Every day, the cardinals walk along the Via delle Fondamenta to the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave happens.
All conversations with outsiders are forbidden during this period.
