Cardinals Resume Voting in Sistine Chapel as Conclave Enters Second Day Without Pope

Cardinals gathering before the start of the conclave in the Sistine Chapel.

Cardinals have returned to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday to continue voting for a new pope after the first ballot of the conclave ended in a stalemate, signaled by plumes of black smoke rising from the chapel chimney. With 133 voting cardinals gathered to choose a successor to Pope Francis, the process is expected to take several more rounds of voting before one candidate reaches the required two-thirds majority—89 votes—to become the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

Although some cardinals expressed hopes for a brief conclave, precedent suggests the decision may take time. Over the past century, papal elections have required anywhere from three to 14 ballots. Pope John Paul I was elected on the fourth ballot in 1978, while his successor, Pope John Paul II, was chosen on the eighth. Pope Francis was elected on the fifth ballot in 2013.

Black smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel indicating no Pope was elected on the conclave's first ballot

The conclave officially began Wednesday afternoon, marked by a centuries-old ritual that combines theatrical solemnity with strict secrecy. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the 70-year-old Vatican secretary of state and a prominent papal contender, led the proceedings. Standing beneath Michelangelo’s famed fresco “The Last Judgment,” Parolin administered the oath of secrecy, with each cardinal placing his hand on the Gospel and swearing, in Latin, to preserve the confidentiality of the process. The chapel was filled with the sound of Latin chants, the scent of incense, and the presence of red-robed figures—creating a visual spectacle that underscored the historic significance of the moment.

Outside in St. Peter’s Square, the mood was festive. Thousands of pilgrims and visitors gathered to witness the unfolding drama, watching the chapel’s chimney on large video screens. Applause erupted when the chapel doors were ceremoniously sealed and the first vote began. As hours passed, many waited patiently, while some left after nightfall. Those who remained cheered when black smoke finally emerged, confirming that no consensus had been reached.

People gather in St Peter’s Square as they wait to see the smoke billow from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in St Peter’s Square during the cardinals’ conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Among the crowd was Gabriel Capry, a 27-year-old from London, who expressed his hope for a pope who could bring unity. “My hope is that cardinals will choose a man who can be a peacemaker and could reunify the church,” he said.

During the conclave, the cardinals are completely isolated from the outside world. Their cellphones were confiscated, and Vatican airwaves were jammed to ensure complete communication blackout until a new pope is chosen. The seclusion is intended to preserve the integrity of the vote and the sanctity of the decision.

Of the 133 cardinal-electors, 108 were appointed by Pope Francis. Many of them are pastors aligned with his vision of a more inclusive and globally representative Church. His selections include cardinals from nations that had never held the title before—such as Mongolia, Sweden, and Tonga—introducing a broader perspective into the College of Cardinals. Francis’s decision to exceed the traditional cap of 120 voting cardinals has made the voting process longer and introduced new layers of unpredictability to an already mysterious and spiritually charged ritual.

As the conclave proceeds, the world waits for the moment when white smoke will rise, signaling the election of the next pontiff and the beginning of a new chapter in Catholic history.