VATICAN CITY — Thick black smoke curled out of the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday evening, indicating that the first vote of the 2025 papal conclave failed to produce a new pope. The 133 cardinals from 70 countries had gathered in the iconic chapel to begin the solemn and secretive process of electing a successor to Pope Francis.
The day began with theatrical gravity as red-robed cardinals filed into the chapel amid Latin chants and incense. The conclave — the most geographically diverse in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church — is cloaked in centuries-old ritual. Yet the challenges ahead, from deepening polarization within the Church to renewed calls for reform, make the outcome anything but predictable.
After one inconclusive round of voting, the cardinals retired for the evening. They are set to resume deliberations Thursday morning, continuing the ancient process under Michelangelo’s frescoes and the watchful eyes of history.
Outside in St. Peter’s Square, the mood was festive and expectant. Thousands of pilgrims and tourists gathered to witness the visual drama unfold on massive video screens. Applause broke out when the chapel doors shut, initiating the first vote. Hours later, the crowd cheered again — not for white smoke but for the spectacle of the black smoke itself, signaling the global Church is still without a new leader.
“I hope the next pope is someone who can unify and bring peace to the Church,” said 27-year-old Gabriel Capry from London, echoing a sentiment shared by many in the square.
The unprecedented diversity among the electors has injected a degree of unpredictability into this conclave. Pope Francis, who reshaped the College of Cardinals during his papacy, appointed 108 of the current 133 electors. Many hail from regions previously unrepresented at this level, including countries like Mongolia, Tonga, and Sweden. The pope’s emphasis on the “global south” — nations with fewer resources but vibrant faith communities — has shifted the conclave’s center of gravity.
Some cardinals expressed concern over how little time they had to familiarize themselves with one another before casting their votes, adding to the uncertainty about how many ballots it may take to reach a two-thirds consensus — currently 89 votes — for one man to emerge as the 267th pontiff.
“Wait and see, a little patience,” advised Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Vatican’s ambassador to Syria.
Inside the chapel, the cardinals took a solemn oath of secrecy before Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the 70-year-old Vatican secretary of state and a leading papal contender. In accordance with tradition, Parolin led the oath in front of Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment,” a powerful reminder of the divine gravity of their mission.
After the oath, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, gave the command: “Extra omnes” — all others out. Only the cardinal electors remained. An elderly cardinal delivered a meditation, then departed, as he was over the age limit to vote.
Earlier that day, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, urging the cardinals to put aside personal ambition and select a pope who embodies unity and conscience.
Despite rules against outside influence, lobbying efforts surrounded the conclave. Young Catholics released open letters calling for inclusion. Conservative media circulated glossy dossiers evaluating possible candidates. Survivors of clergy sexual abuse reminded electors of the Church’s lingering moral debt. Advocates for women’s ordination sent pink smoke over the Vatican in a dramatic plea for reform.
Even politics crept in from afar. The White House posted a photo of President Donald Trump dressed as a pope — intended as a joke but widely condemned. Former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi called it “indecent interference.”
Inside the College of Cardinals, informal lobbying also played out. “You invite each other out,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York on The Catholic Channel. “You’re pretty blunt. ‘Tell me about this guy. Am I right to be enchanted by him?’”
The next pope will inherit a Church grappling with profound questions. Will he continue Pope Francis’ progressive agenda on climate change, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and outreach to the marginalized? Or will he lead a return to more conservative orthodoxy in an effort to heal internal rifts?
Though Francis appointed most of the electors, predicting the conclave’s outcome is difficult. Continuity is expected — but its shape remains unclear.
Several names consistently appear among the papabile, or men considered to have the qualities to be pope. In addition to Parolin, candidates include Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle, 67, a progressive voice who led the Vatican’s evangelization efforts, and Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, a conservative force from Eastern Europe.
Lisette Herrera, a tourist from the Dominican Republic, watched the black smoke with tears in her eyes. “I’m praying to the Holy Spirit for a young pope who will stay with us a long time,” she said. “I don’t believe in conclave politics. The Spirit will decide.”
As the cardinals prepare to return to the chapel Thursday, the world watches — and waits.
