On Thursday, white smoke was seen coming from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a new Pope has been elected. However, the name of the new Pope has yet to be revealed by the Conclave, which met for the first time on Wednesday to discuss the selection of the Catholic Church’s leader.
Only one vote occurred on the first day, but that increased to four votes the following day, split between two in the morning and up to two in the afternoon. The appearance of white smoke signifies that the voting on the second day has concluded. Notably, both Pope Francis and Pope Benedict were elected on their respective second days of Conclave.
A historical reference dates back to 1503 when the first-day agreement for a Pope was made, leading to the election of Pope Julius II.
In recent times, Conclaves have typically reached decisions swiftly—often within a few days. For instance, Pope Francis was chosen on his fifth vote in 2013, and Pope Benedict XVI was elected after his fourth vote in 2005. The election process requires a two-thirds majority from the voting Cardinals, who must be under 80 years old at the time of the Pope’s passing. Out of 252 members, 133 Cardinals participated in the voting.
Once a candidate is chosen from the College of Cardinals, they traditionally accept the role and select a papal name, marking the Conclave’s conclusion.
This story is still developing.
