Vatican City, May 7, 2025 — The first day of the 2025 papal conclave concluded without the election of a new pope, as black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney at 9:00 p.m. local time, signaling an inconclusive vote.
The conclave, convened to select a successor to Pope Francis who passed away on April 21, 2025, is the largest in history, with 133 cardinal-electors participating. A two-thirds majority, or 89 votes, is required to elect the new pontiff.
Prior to the conclave’s commencement, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, led a Mass invoking the Holy Spirit’s guidance, emphasizing the gravity of their decision.
Among the potential candidates, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, is considered a frontrunner, though his support appears uncertain amid ideological divides. Other notable figures include Cardinals Robert Prevost, Jean-Marc Aveline, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Pablo Virgilio David.
The conclave is set to resume on May 8, with up to four voting rounds scheduled for the day. The faithful worldwide continue to watch and pray as the Church seeks its new leader.
