ROME — Black smoke once again billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling that no pope was chosen in the second or third rounds of voting during the conclave.
The smoke appeared just before noon Thursday, May 8, 2025, following the morning voting sessions to select a successor to Pope Francis.
As of press time (PH time), the cardinals have returned to their Vatican residences for lunch before resuming the afternoon voting session in the Sistine Chapel.
The first smoke rising from the chapel’s iconic chimney on Wednesday was black — a sign that no candidate had yet secured the required two-thirds majority vote of 89 ballots to become the 267th pontiff.
The conclave, a secretive process steeped in centuries-old tradition, sees cardinals gather to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. They remain behind closed doors, with no contact with the outside world, until a decision is reached.
On Thursday, the process resumes with up to four ballots scheduled and two smoke signals expected — one set in the morning, another in the afternoon.
The color of the smoke conveys the outcome of the vote to the thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Black smoke means no pope has been elected, while white smoke signals a successful election.
If a new pope is chosen early in the session, white smoke could appear as early as 10:30 a.m.
On Wednesday, around 45,000 people had gathered in St. Peter’s Square to await the announcement, which had been expected some time after 7 p.m.
Some of the 133 voting cardinals had predicted a short conclave to replace Pope Francis.
The new pope must secure the two-thirds majority. / XINHUA