Cardinals resume voting in historic conclave to choose successor to Pope Francis

A view of St. Peter's Square, on the second day of the conclave to elect the new pope, at the Vatican, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Claudia Greco

VATICAN CITY, May 8 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Roman Catholic cardinals resumed voting on Thursday in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope, following an inconclusive first ballot on Wednesday. The conclave is the largest and most geographically diverse in the Church’s history.

A total of 133 cardinals from 70 countries are participating in the secretive election process to select a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month. The number marks a significant increase from the 115 electors in the 2013 conclave, reflecting the global expansion of the Church under Francis' leadership.

The first round of voting on Wednesday ended with black smoke rising from the chapel chimney, indicating no candidate had secured the required two-thirds majority. According to the Vatican, voting resumed Thursday morning at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT), with the potential for up to four rounds of ballots throughout the day.

White smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney will signal the successful election of a new pope. If a candidate achieves the necessary majority in one of the morning ballots, an announcement could come as early as 11 a.m. (0900 GMT).

No pope in modern history has been elected on the first vote. Francis himself was elected in 2013 after five ballots across two days, while his predecessor Benedict XVI was chosen in 2005 after four votes.

Leading candidates in the current conclave reportedly include Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, former Vatican Secretary of State, and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. Other names being discussed include Jean-Marc Aveline of France, Peter Erdo of Hungary, Robert Prevost of the United States, and Pierbattista Pizzaballa of Italy.

Cardinals are sequestered during the conclave and sworn to secrecy, with communication devices removed. They are housed at Vatican guest residences and transported under strict isolation for each voting session.

The Church remains divided following Francis’ decade-long pontificate, which emphasized social inclusion, interfaith dialogue, and reform. Some electors are reportedly seeking continuity with his vision, while others favor a return to more traditional doctrinal leadership.

Voting will continue until a candidate secures the required supermajority.