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3d ago

Cardinals Enter Second Day of Papal Conclave After First Ballot Fails

Black smoke signals no decision on day one as 133 cardinals reconvene to elect Pope Francis's successor under strict secrecy.

Cardinals adjust their mitre hats during a final Mass celebrated by cardinals inside St. Peter's Basilica before the conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Cardinals arrive to attend the first day of the conclave to elect the successor of late Pope Francis inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
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Overview

  • The conclave resumed Thursday with cardinals returning to the Sistine Chapel after an inconclusive first round of voting on Wednesday.
  • Black smoke from the chapel chimney confirmed no candidate secured the required two-thirds majority (89 votes) to become the 267th pope.
  • Cardinals Pietro Parolin of Italy and Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines are seen as leading contenders, though no clear favorite has emerged.
  • This conclave is the largest and most geographically diverse in history, with 133 electors from 70 countries, reflecting Pope Francis’s emphasis on global representation.
  • The voting process, steeped in ancient rituals, includes strict secrecy measures, with cardinals sequestered and communication with the outside world prohibited.