The papal conclave officially began just before 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday after all 133 voting cardinals swore an oath of secrecy.
After their oaths were made, the Extra Omnes order was given, removing everyone from the chamber aside from the approved cardinals. The doors at the Sistine Chapel were then sealed.
The cardinals could deliberate for hours or days before selecting a new pope.
CONCLAVE QUICK RECAP
The College of Cardinals began meeting in Vatican City Wednesday, May 7, 2025, to elect a new pope as the Bishop of Rome.
A papal conclave is an ancient electoral process through the Catholic Church where those under the age of 80 in the College of Cardinals vote to elect a new pontiff.
The conclave began in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel where cardinals are being kept in strict isolation to keep them far from any outside influence from the rest of the world.
Pope Francis, the 266th Vicar of Christ, was elected in 2013 and died on April 21, 2025.
Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, among others, are floated possible pope candidates.
The College of Cardinals will signal to the world that a new pope has been selected when white smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.
Each time the College of Cardinals votes on a new pope but does not elect one, the end of a voting round will be signified with black smoke from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney.
