- Cardinals pledged secrecy before the conclave began.
- Voting takes place within the Sistine Chapel, away from public view.
- Progressives and traditionalists compete for influence.
On Wednesday evening, black smoke erupted from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the first vote among the cardinals in the conclave to elect a new pope was inconclusive.
Thousands of worshippers gathered in St. Peter’s Square, eagerly waiting for smoke to emerge from the narrow flue atop the chapel. This day was filled with ceremonial traditions, as the ecclesiastics prayed for divine guidance during their secret voting process.
The crowd exhibited patience as the smoke took longer than anticipated to appear, over three hours after the conclave commenced. This duration exceeded the initial voting period of the 2013 conclave, which resulted in the election of the late Pope Francis.
White smoke would indicate a new pope has been chosen, but that was not anticipated on Wednesday; modern history shows that popes are not usually appointed on the first day of a conclave.
Nonetheless, some cardinals expressed hope this week that a decision could be reached by Thursday or Friday, signaling unity within the Church following the often-contentious 12-year papacy of Francis, who passed away last month.
The 133 cardinal electors, all under the age of 80, will spend the night in one of two Vatican guesthouses, allowing for informal discussions before returning to the chapel on Thursday morning.
Following the initial round of voting on Wednesday, the cardinals will hold two votes in the morning and two more in the afternoon, continuing until a candidate garners a two-thirds majority—89 votes are needed this time.
The only link between the electors and the outside world will be the chimney smoke, which will reveal the results as they burn their completed ballots mixed with special chemicals; black smoke signifies no consensus, while white denotes the election of a new pope.
Contemporary papal conclaves typically conclude swiftly. The 2013 conclave took only two days, as did the one in 2005, which elected Benedict XVI.
In recent discussions, cardinals have shared their hopes for the new pope who will lead the 1.4 billion members of the Church.
Some seek continuity with the vision of Pope Francis, advocating for greater openness and reform, while others wish to return to traditional practices. Many express a desire for a more predictable papacy.
‘The Good of the Church’
In a sermon preceding the conclave, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who is 91 and not eligible to vote, urged his fellow prelates to set aside personal motives and focus solely on “the good of the Church and of humanity.”
He also emphasized that the next pope must respect the Church’s diversity. “Unity does not mean uniformity,” he stated, “but a deep communion amidst diversity.”
No clear frontrunner has surfaced, although Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are viewed as leading candidates.
However, if it becomes evident that neither can secure enough support, votes may shift toward other candidates based on geography, doctrinal compatibility, or shared languages.
Other possible contenders include Jean-Marc Aveline from France, Peter Erdo from Hungary, American Robert Prevost, and Pierbattista Pizzaballa from Italy.
This conclave boasts a record 133 cardinals from 70 countries, a rise from 115 cardinals from 48 nations in the last conclave in 2013—reflecting Pope Francis’s efforts over his 12-year tenure to broaden the Church’s global representation.
Among their considerations will be whether to choose a pope from the Global South, where congregations are expanding, as they did with Francis from Argentina in 2013, or to return to Europe, or potentially elect the first pope from the United States.
The cardinals entered the adorned Sistine Chapel accompanied by Latin chants and organ music, with Michelangelo’s Last Judgment fresco forming the backdrop.
They placed their hands on the Gospels, taking an oath of secrecy to maintain confidentiality about their proceedings.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Vatican’s master of ceremonies, then declared “Extra omnes!” (Everyone out!) compelling those not participating to exit, sealing the chapel’s heavy doors against the outside world.
While discussion is not permitted during voting sessions, it is expected that informal campaigning will take place during breaks and meals as the list of potential papal candidates shifts throughout the ballots.
