Papal conclave live updates: Cardinals gather at Vatican to elect next pope

 Papal conclave live updates: Cardinals gather at Vatican to elect next pope

     The next pope will be the Catholic Church's 267th leader

Catholic cardinals are gathering at the Vatican to elect the successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21. Voting will take place in the Sistine Chapel, with ballots continuing in succession until any candidate secures two-thirds of the available votes.

If no clear choice has emerged after three days, balloting is suspended for 24 hours to allow cardinal electors time to reflect. Since 1831, no conclave has lasted more than four days.

The end of each round of balloting will be signaled by smoke emanating from a stovepipe chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke -- fumata nera in Italian -- indicates an inconclusive vote, while white smoke -- fumata bianca -- will signify that a new pope has been elected, as will the ringing of the bells of St. Peter's Basilica

How the new pope will be announced

Of all the ceremonies associated with electing a new pope, the one most familiar to the general public is the smoke that emanates from a stovepipe chimney atop the Sistine Chapel after every round of balloting.

Black smoke -- fumata nera in Italian -- indicates an inconclusive vote, while white smoke -- fumata bianca -- will signify that a new pope has been elected. Along with the white smoke, the bells of St. Peter's Basilica will ring to proclaim the event to the world.

Firefighters install a temporary chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel on May 2, 2025 in the Vatican City, used to communicate the choosing of a new pop.

The ceremonial smoke is not created by the burning of the ballots. The voting slips are burned in a stove that dates back to the 1922 conclave and is set up for the occasion in the Sistine Chapel