𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗦𝗠𝗢𝗞𝗘 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗢𝗣𝗘

After a lengthy wait, black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney this evening, meaning that the cardinals have not been able to choose a new pontiff.

Crowds were gathered in their tens of thousands in St Peter’s Square for the first vote of conclave – the results of which took more than three hours to announce.

Because of the secrecy of the process, experts have pointed out that we might never know what caused the delay, and we definitely won’t until after the conclave concludes.

But the lack of a new pope means that cardinals will return tomorrow to a closed-door Sistine Chapel for more rounds of voting.

St Peter’s Square – where 45,000 people gathered this evening, according to the Vatican – emptied out in minutes after black smoke billowed from the chimney, with many flocking straight to the restaurants in the surrounding streets for a late dinner after a long wait. 

The cardinal electors will also be heading back to Casa Santa Marta to eat and debrief on the first afternoon of the conclave – and to prepare to vote again in the morning, and again until two-thirds of them reach a consensus on who should be the next leader of the Catholic Church. 

We’ll also be back here alongside thousands of faithful, pilgrims, clergy and tourists, watching the chimney – and waiting.

After tonight’s delay to proceedings, with black smoke only billowing out of the Sistine Chapel chimney more than three hours after cardinals were locked inside, an expert has predicted the conclave may take a “little longer” than usual.

Speaking to BBC News, Mathew Schmalz, a professor in Catholic studies at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, says he is “kind of nervous that there seems to be some ripples in the process”.

He adds that the conclave would need to “smooth out” whatever issues there were, but adds we might never “find out what went on”.

“I’m thinking simply because of the diversity of the college of cardinals, that the conclave could be a little longer,” Schmalz says, although he adds that he expected this to only be “a day longer” than what we’ve experienced in recent conclaves.

“These are cardinals who still are getting to know one another so unless they’re going to go for a clear candidate who’s already well known, deliberations make take some time,” says Schmalz.

The first vote is over, with no new pope announced on May 7, 2025.

Tomorrow morning, cardinals will have breakfast from around 06:30 (05:30 BST) ahead of Mass, before more votes scheduled for later in the day.

During the conclave, the cardinals live in the Casa Santa Marta, a five-storey guesthouse with 106 suites, 22 single rooms and a state apartment.

The conclave – the assembly of cardinals for the election of the pope – happens at the Sistine Chapel. Cardinals are forbidden from speaking to outsiders during this period.

While their seclusion could last for an indefinite period, it’s worth noting that both Pope Francis and his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, were elected after two days.

Source | BBC