The Conclave begun on Wednesday May 7, 2025, exactly 16 days after the passing of Pope Francis.
On the morning before the start of the election of a new Pontiff, all the 133 Cardinal electors convened at the St. Peter’s Basilica, for a holy mass celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista.
At exactly 3:45 pm (Rome time), the Cardinals, one by one, processed into the Sistine Chapel, while chanting the “Litany of the Saints” and then the hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus,” invoking the Holy Spirit to descend upon them. Leading the procession was a crucifix, followed by the choir, and then the priest assistants to the Master of Ceremonies.
With everyone inside the Sistine Chapel, Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, then proclaimed the famed phrase, “Extra Omnes” (everyone out), leaving only the Cardinals. With everyone out, he proceeded to close the doors of the Sistine Chapel, to allow Cardinals have a space of prayer before electing the next Pope.
Pilgrims and curious tourists thronged the St. Peter’s Square for the better part of Wednesday evening, waiting to witness the outcome of the first ballot.
At around 21:00pm, the first smoke billowed out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the first ballot of the Conclave had been held without the election of new Pope.
On Thursday May 8, Cardinal electors gathered again at around 10:30 am (Rome time), for another round of elections. The results of Thursday’s first ballot was another black smoke indicating that there was still no breakthrough in finding the Next Holy Father.
To become next Pontiff, a cardinal needs two-thirds of the ballots cast by the college of cardinals- that is 89 out of the 133 electors.
