First day of Conclave ends without a new Pope

By Newsflash Reporter

VATICAN CITY, 7 May 2025 — The first day of the papal conclave has ended without the election of a new pope, as black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 9:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, signaling an inconclusive vote by the College of Cardinals.

The centuries-old ritual, steeped in secrecy and symbolism, will continue Thursday morning when the cardinal electors reconvene to resume their sacred task of choosing the 267th successor to Saint Peter.

The voting began hours earlier after the formal declaration of “Extra omnes”—Latin for “Everyone out”—marked the closing of the chapel doors to all but the participating cardinals. This phrase, steeped in ecclesiastical tradition, signals the beginning of the conclave, a term derived from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key,” referring to the locked setting in which the voting takes place. In total, 115 cardinals under the age of 80, representing all corners of the Catholic world, are eligible to vote.

During the conclave, ballots are cast in secret and burned in a special stove inside the Sistine Chapel. If a two-thirds majority is not reached—currently 77 votes—the ballots are burned with a chemical that produces black smoke, indicating that no pope has been elected. White smoke, in contrast, signals that a new pope has been chosen and accepted the role.

The sight of black smoke drifting into the night sky over St Peter’s Square dashed the hopes of many faithful gathered outside who had waited patiently for news of a successful election.

Tradition and mystery surround the Conclave

The papal conclave is one of the most unique and cloistered events in the modern world. The cardinal electors are sworn to secrecy and cut off from all outside communication—no phones, internet, or newspapers—until a new pope is chosen. They are housed in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a residence within Vatican City, and are transported back and forth to the Sistine Chapel under strict supervision.

Black smoke emerged from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 21:00 on Wednesday evening, signalling that a first ballot has been held at the conclave and has concluded without the election of a Pope.https://t.co/hlmAJdskTO pic.twitter.com/AKxuUbDK2g
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 7, 2025

The process itself can last days or even weeks, depending on how quickly a consensus is reached. Historically, some conclaves have concluded in just a day, while others have dragged on for months. While much of the procedure is governed by tradition, it is also shaped by the dynamics of the global Church. Electors consider not only theological and pastoral qualities but also geopolitical balance, reform agendas, and the ability to unify a diverse 1.3 billion-member Catholic community.

Speculation about leading candidates—sometimes called papabili—runs high, although the Vatican cautions against placing too much weight on media predictions. The outcome remains uncertain until the moment a cardinal receives the necessary majority and accepts the role, taking a new papal name.

The world now waits as the cardinals prepare to cast more ballots tomorrow morning at approximately 10:30 a.m. Rome time. If the day’s votes remain inconclusive, smoke will once again rise—black or white—from the tiny chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, as the Catholic Church moves closer to revealing its new leader.