Black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, May 8, 2025, indicating that the 133 cardinals had yet to elect a new pope during the closely watched conclave.
This is the second time black smoke has appeared since the conclave began, confirming that no candidate has received the required two-thirds majority to become the next leader of the 1.4-billion-strong Roman Catholic Church.
Voting is expected to resume later on Thursday, with two more rounds scheduled for the afternoon.
The conclave will continue until one cardinal secures at least 89 votes, according to the Polish state news agency PAP.
The papal conclave, which is set to determine the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reconvened on Thursday after the first day ended without the much-anticipated result.
The cardinals will remain locked away in the Vatican, sworn to secrecy and without access to the outside world, until a new leader is elected to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
In a statement, the Vatican said the 133 cardinal-electors would gather again in the Sistine Chapel around 11:30 a.m. Kenyan time (10:30 a.m. Rome time) to cast their votes.
The first day of the conclave ended Wednesday evening without the appearance of white smoke from the Sistine Chapel, the traditional signal that a pope has been elected.
On Wednesday, black smoke emerged from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 9 pm, signalling that a first ballot had been held and had concluded without the election of a pope.
Thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square to await the traditional signal—smoke rising from the chapel's chimney—to indicate whether a decision had been reached.
Around 45,000 people had gathered in the square, expecting the announcement sometime after 7 pm.
In the end, they had to wait until 9:00. Among those in the square was Deacon Nicholas Nkoronko from Tanzania. Speaking to Vatican News, he said: "Our role here is to pray and to join with other Christians, other Catholics, to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide the whole process."
"Wherever the new pope comes from," Deacon Nkoronko emphasised, "whether it's Africa, Asia, or America, what we need is a holy pope. We need a pope who will guide the Church and be its pastor.”
