White smoke has been seen above the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican on the second day of the conclave
White smoke rises from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel indicating that the College of Cardinals have elected a new Pope during their fourth vote on the second day of their secret conclave on May 8, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. © Dan Kitwood / Getty Images
White smoke has come pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney at the Vatican, indicating that a new Pope has been elected. His identity, as well as the name he will take as pontiff are expected to be revealed soon.
It is the third time in a row now that a Pope has been elected on the second day of the conclave. The late Pope Francis was elected after five rounds of voting. His predecessor, Benedict XVI, was elected in four.
The support of at least 89 of the 133 cardinal electors participating in the conclave was needed to elect a new bishop of Rome. A senior cardinal is now expected to address the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica with the words: “Habemus papam!” – Latin for “We have a pope!”
The new Pope is then expected to make his first public appearance and bless the crowd. There is no set schedule for this procedure. Francis appeared an hour and 20 minutes after white smoke was released upon his election back in 2013.
Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on April 21, a day after greeting worshippers gathered for Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church.
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