Black Smoke Signals No Pope Elected After First Conclave Vote, Vatican Reports

By Emmanuel Kwada

The Sistine Chapel’s chimney billowed black smoke at 9:00 PM on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, signaling that the first ballot of the papal conclave to elect the 267th pope concluded without a decision.

The dark plume, a centuries-old tradition, dashed hopes among the approximately 45,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, who had anticipated news of a new pontiff as early as 7:00 PM.

The conclave, which began earlier that day with the ceremonial closing of the Sistine Chapel doors and the pronouncement of “Extra omnes” (“Everyone out”), marked the start of the cardinals’ sacred task to select a successor to lead the Roman Catholic Church.

The black smoke, produced by burning the ballots with a chemical additive, confirmed that no candidate had secured the required two-thirds majority among the 118 cardinal electors

The black smoke, produced by burning the ballots with a chemical additive, confirmed that no candidate had secured the required two-thirds majority among the 118 cardinal electors.

In St. Peter’s Square, the atmosphere was one of prayerful anticipation. Among the crowd was Deacon Nicholas Nkoronko from Tanzania, who spoke to Vatican News about the significance of the moment.

“Our role here is to pray and to join with other Christians, other Catholics, to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide the whole process,” he said. Reflecting the global Church’s hopes, he added, “Wherever the new Pope comes from—whether it’s Africa, Asia, America—what we need is a holy Pope who will guide the Church and be the pastor of the Church.”

Wherever the new Pope comes from—whether it’s Africa, Asia, America—what we need is a holy Pope

The conclave’s first day, steeped in ritual, underscores the gravity of the task at hand. The cardinals, secluded from the outside world, will reconvene Thursday morning for further ballots, with two voting sessions planned per day until a pope is elected.

White smoke, indicating a successful election, will mark the announcement of a new pontiff, followed by the traditional words “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”).

As the world watches, the Vatican remains a focal point of faith and expectation, with the faithful praying for a leader to navigate the Church through modern challenges. Until the white smoke rises, the conclave continues, and the identity of the next pope remains a mystery.

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