For the second day in a row, black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling that the 133 cardinals have not yet reached the two-thirds majority needed to elect a successor to Pope Francis. The conclave, held in strict secrecy, began Wednesday evening, with multiple voting rounds planned across several days. Ballot papers are burned after each round, producing black smoke if no decision is reached and white smoke when a new pope is elected.
Crowds of faithful and tourists gathered in St. Peter’s Square, witnessing the ritual with mixed feelings of hope and patience. Many expressed support for a pope who would uphold Pope Francis’s progressive legacy, particularly in advocating for the environment and migrants. Among the hopefuls is Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, favored by many in the crowd, although the process remains entirely spiritual and confidential.
This 2025 conclave is the largest and most diverse in history, involving cardinals from around 70 countries, most appointed by Francis. With no clear frontrunner and ideological divisions between progressives and conservatives, the selection process may take longer than in past conclaves. The Church faces significant global challenges, including internal divisions, ongoing abuse scandals, and waning influence in the West, placing great weight on the decision still to come.
