Black smoke rises from Sistine chapel as cardinals fail to elect new pope

DDM News

A wave of anticipation swept through Vatican City on Thursday, May 7, 2025, as thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square to witness the first signs from the papal conclave.

Despite the high expectations and prolonged waiting, the crowd was met with a familiar symbol of delay black smoke billowing from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel.

This signaled that the cardinal electors had not reached the required two-thirds majority to elect a new pope.

As the smoke rose, confirming another inconclusive vote, around 45,000 faithful, pilgrims, and tourists began dispersing from the square.

According to Vatican estimates, many of the attendees headed toward nearby restaurants after hours of waiting under the evening sky.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that excitement had been building all day, following the morning’s solemn mass celebrated at St. Peter’s Basilica.

The ceremony was led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the current Dean of the College of Cardinals.

The 91-year-old prelate presided over both the morning mass and the funeral of Pope Francis, held last month after the pontiff’s passing shocked the global Catholic community.

Cardinal Re, born on January 30, 1934, in Borno, Italy, has held a prominent position in the Roman Catholic Church for decades.

He holds a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and was ordained as a priest in 1957.

His extensive service in the Vatican’s diplomatic corps included postings in Panama and Iran.

In 2001, he was appointed as a cardinal by Pope John Paul II.

In 2020, he assumed the role of Dean of the College of Cardinals.

Pope Francis extended his term in February 2025, just weeks before his passing.

Re is one of the few high-ranking churchmen who have participated in multiple papal conclaves.

He was present in the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and again in the conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013.

The current conclave was convened after Pope Francis’s funeral, with the goal of choosing the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church.

The traditional process requires absolute secrecy and is conducted entirely within the Vatican walls.

Cardinals under the age of 80 are sequestered at Casa Santa Marta and vote up to four times a day two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

A two-thirds majority is needed to elect a new pope.

The outcome of each vote is revealed to the public through the chimney on the Sistine Chapel.

White smoke signals a successful election.

Black smoke, as seen today, indicates no decision has been reached.

On Wednesday evening, the atmosphere in St. Peter’s Square shifted from hopeful to subdued as the black smoke emerged.

Tourists and the faithful alike took photos and videos of the smoke as they processed the message: the church must wait.

Despite the outcome, many vowed to return the following day to continue witnessing history in real time.

The conclave, an ancient ritual, continues to captivate Catholics and non-Catholics alike due to its mystery and gravity.

The process is governed by strict protocols and is seen as a spiritual journey guided by the Holy Spirit.

Each cardinal-elector swears an oath of secrecy before voting begins.

Communication with the outside world is completely cut off.

Screens set up around St. Peter’s Basilica broadcast footage of the cardinals entering the chapel.

Their oaths echoed through loudspeakers, adding to the solemnity of the event.

Observers described the scenes as reverent and emotionally charged.

The world awaits a new spiritual leader to guide the global Catholic community.

The church currently faces pressing issues.

These include declining church attendance in Western countries, clerical abuse scandals, and debates around reform.

Pope Francis’s legacy includes efforts to modernize the church.

He emphasized social justice and reached out to marginalized communities.

His successor will inherit these challenges.

That person will also bear the responsibility of guiding over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.

As the cardinals return to Casa Santa Marta for rest, reflection, and dinner, attention turns to the next round of voting.

The conclave will resume in the morning.

Once again, the world will turn its gaze to the Vatican.

Until white smoke rises, the question remains: who will be the next pope?

Faithful in Rome and beyond will continue watching.

They will continue waiting.

They will continue praying.

The drama, tradition, and significance of the papal conclave remain as potent today as they have been for centuries.

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