No New Pope Yet as Conclave Voting Continues
The papal conclave tasked with electing the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church remains undecided as of May 8, 2025. At 11:51 a.m. Rome time, black smoke was seen rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling that the cardinals have yet to reach the required consensus to select a new pope.
The traditional signal of black smoke indicates that none of the candidates secured the necessary two-thirds majority vote from the 133 cardinal electors. A white smoke plume would mark the successful election of a new pontiff, but that moment remains pending after another inconclusive round of voting.
Voting to Resume as Conclave Continues
The conclave, which began on May 7, follows a highly confidential process within the Vatican walls. Each day typically includes two rounds of voting in the morning and two in the afternoon. After every session, the ballots are burned, producing either black or white smoke depending on the outcome.
With another failed round of voting, the cardinals will resume their deliberations later today. Public anticipation remains high, with thousands of onlookers gathered in St. Peter’s Square awaiting the symbolic white smoke that will confirm the election of the 267th pope.
Leading Candidates and Global Interest
Among the prominent contenders are Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State; Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna; Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; and Cardinal Péter Erdő of Hungary. Each candidate brings a unique blend of experience, theological vision, and geopolitical implications to the role.
The conclave remains sealed off from the outside world, with strict protocols in place to prevent communication until the decision is made. As speculation grows over who will succeed Pope Francis, global attention remains fixed on the Vatican.
Until the white smoke appears, the world continues to wait.
