Conclave 2025: Black smoke signals new pope not selected on first ballot

Black smoke billowed over the Vatican on Wednesday to signal that no candidate received the required two-thirds majority of cardinal electors to become the next pope.The big picture: White smoke is probably not far off. Most modern conclaves have typically lasted two or three days. Pope Francis was elected on the second day of the 2013 conclave.How a pope is electedWhile just a single vote will be held on the opening day of the conclave, four rounds are expected on subsequent days (two in the morning, two in the afternoon). If no candidate is selected after the third day, the voting is paused for a day of prayer before resuming.The field is narrowed to two candidates if no pope is selected after 21 rounds of voting, but every conclave in more than a century has wrapped up long before then.Data: Catholic Hierarchy; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios VisualsThe conclave: An ancient, secretive proceedingThe conclave is closed off to the world, with cardinals turning in their phones and taking a vow of secrecy at the risk of excommunication if they break it. The chapel is even swept for bugs to ensure the proceedings remain secret.The cardinals proceed from the Vatican apartments at Casa Santa Marta — where they are housed during the conclave — to the Sistine Chapel to cast their votes.The ancient ceremony has changed little in some 800 years, with cardinals writing their choice on a slip of paper, folding it, reciting an oath, and using a plate to slide it into a chalice.The smoke in the chimney comes from burning the ballots, with chemical compounds added to make it black or white.Infographic: Maura Losch/AxiosWho is eligible to vote for the popeWhile 135 cardinals are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote, two are not participating do to ill health. That means any candidate needs 89 votes to be elected. The pope doesn't technically need to be a cardinal, but every pope for nearly three centuries has been.Pope Francis elevated 108 of the 135 eligible electors and brought more geographical diversity to the College of Cardinals. Data: Vatican Press Office; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios VisualsHow we'll know when a pope has been chosenWhen white smoke appears above the Sistine Chapel, people will rush to St. Peter's Square to catch a glimpse of the new pope.The senior cardinal will declare "Habemus Papam" — we have a pope — from the balcony of St. Peter's basilica and reveal the papal name the new pope has chosen.Francis' successor will then emerge onto the balcony to offer his first blessing as pope. Pope Francis emerges onto the balcony after being elected in 2013. Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty ImagesGo deeper: Why the pope's influence goes far beyond Catholics

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