New pope elected by College of Cardinals: White smoke billows from Sistine Chapel

White Smoke Signals Election of New Pope

White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, a clear indication that a new pope has been elected by the papal conclave. The identity of the new pontiff has not yet been revealed, as the conclave convened for the first time on Wednesday to deliberate on the next leader of the Catholic Church.

The College of Cardinals Deliberates

On the first day of the conclave, only one vote was scheduled, with the possibility of up to four votes in the following days. The announcement on Thursday indicates that the conclave reached a decision on the second day, a rare occurrence that has only happened a few times in history.

Historically, both Pope Francis and Pope Benedict were elected on the second day of the conclave. The last time a pope was elected on the first day was in 1503 with the selection of Pope Julius II.

Cardinals attend the Holy Mass, celebrated for the election of the new pope, presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (REUTERS/Murad Sezer)

Hopeful Expectations for the New Pontiff

In recent years, conclaves have typically reached a decision within a few days. Pope Francis was elected in 2013 on the fifth ballot, while Pope Benedict XVI won in 2005 on the fourth ballot, illustrating the varying lengths of time it takes to select a pope.

For a pope to be chosen, he must receive a two-thirds majority vote from the eligible voters in the College of Cardinals, who are under the age of 80 at the time of the previous pope’s passing. Out of the 252 members, 133 cardinals participated in the voting process.

Once the new pope is elected, he must accept the role with the Dean of the College and choose a papal name before the conclave concludes.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.