4 weeks ago
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Live Blog
- Updated: 18:04, 7 May 2025
THE top secret Conclave to choose the next Pope has official begun as 133 cardinals are now locked behind closed doors.
The first smoke revealing whether a decision has been made on who the next Holy Father will be is also expected in just hours.
Bishops gathered in the Vatican have made their way from their residence at Casa Santa Marta to the Sistine Chapel for the sacral election.
Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 133 cardinals are voting for one of their number to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
The cardinals swear an oath of secrecy, risking excommunication if they reveal what happens in the conclave, and are forbidden from contacting the outside world until they have a decision.
The 1,000-year-old tradition to elect the new Pope will see the famous daily announcement with the use of smoke.
The outside world will have to wait for the plumes of smoke to emerge from the chimney - black smoke means no one has reached a majority and white smoke means a new pope has been elected.
The previous two conclaves lasted two days, but hopefully papal watchers won’t have to wait as long as the vote following the death of Pope Clement IV, lasted a staggering two years.
You can follow our live blog, below, for updates ...
One hour until sunset
The sun in Rome is due to set at 20:15 local time - which is 19:15 UK time - after which time the smoke will be much harder to see.
Crowds are still waiting in St Peters Square and beginning to get impatient, according to reporters on the ground.
The signal had been expected at around 18:30 UK time, so the process is taking longer than anticipated.
Credit: AP
Credit: AFP
Credit: Reuters
Sun goes down on St Peter's Square
Crowds are still waiting with bated breath as the last patch of sunlight disappears from St Peter's Square.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: Reuters
All eyes on the chimney
Catholics are have gathered in large numbers in St Peter's Square - with all eyes on the chimney.
Credit: Splash
Credit: Splash
Credit: Reuters
Meet: Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Cardinal Pietro Parolin is touted as the front runner to be the next Pope.
The Italian, 70, is currently the Vatican's Secretary of State, and treads the middle ground on most political questions facing the Church.
His reputation was once tainted by a secret deal with China over the appointment of Catholic bishops, but he has overcome that to emerge as the bookies' favourite.
Credit: The College of Cardinals Report
Watch the moment the doors are locked for Conclave
Now we wait and watch...
All eyes are now on the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel.
Smoke will pour from the chimney following each vote - with black smoke equalling no winner and white smoke announcing a new Holy Father.
Credit: Reuters
Credit: AFP
Conclave officially begins
The Papal Conclave has officially begun with the 133 Cardinals now locked behind the doors of the Sistine Chapel.
Credit: Sky News
Credit: Sky News
Second youngest cardinal takes oath
Cardinal Giorgio Marengo has taken his Oath of Secrecy.
Marengo is the second youngest Cardinal at a youthful 50 years old.
He is the Cardinal for Mongolia.
Cardinals take Oath of Secrecy
One-by-one the 133 Cardinals are now taking the Oath of Secrecy before they begin voting on the next Holy Father.
They walk towards the altar and take their vow with their hand on the Bible.
Credit: Sky News
Credit: Sky News
What were the Cardinals singing?
The cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel chanting the meditative Litany of the Saints as Swiss Guards stood at attention and TV cameras watched on.
The hymn implores the saints to help the cardinals find a new leader of the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church.
They bowed before the altar and took their places before taking an oath of secrecy and shutting the Sistine Chapel doors to start the conclave.
The Cardinals have taken their seat
Credit: EPA
Credit: EPA
Credit: EPA
Credit: EPA
Pictures from inside Sistine Chapel
Credit: Sky News
Credit: Sky News
Credit: Sky News
Pope's next likely name revealed
Leo and Pius have a 33 per cent chance each of being the next Pope's name, betting markets believe.
The names are associated with strength and doctrinal authority.
Given there have been 2000 years of Papal history, a Leo would be Leo XIV (14th), while Pius would be the XIII (13th).
Other names betting markets believe could be chosen are John at 20 per cent, Gregory at 16.7 per cent, and Francis at 16.7 per cent.
Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel
Cardinals are currently entering the Sistine Chapel, where they will be locked in for the election.
The 133 bishops of the Roman faith are singing as they walk through one of the most famous and sacred buildings in the world.
They are walking two abreast and bow at the end of their walk before Michaelangelo's The Last Judgement painting - in front of which sits the chapel's altar.
The Cardinals then take their seat. Most are wearing red, but senior bishops wear purple.
How will the Papal Conclave work?
Cardinal Dolan speaks about Conclave
The Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan has posted a video talking about going into the Conclave.
Crowds gather in St Peter's Square
Credit: AFP
Credit: Getty
Credit: Alamy
Possible next Popes spotted at mass
Some of those tipped to be the next Pope have been seen at today's mass.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim TagleCredit: Pacific Coast News
Cardinal Jean-Marc AvelineCredit: EPA
Cardinal Pietro ParolinCredit: EPA
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of JerusalemCredit: AP
Photos of the mass
Credit: Getty
Credit: Getty
Credit: Avalon.red
A final mass
The cardinals began the day by participating in a final Holy Mass in St. Peters Basilica before the Conclave.
The 91-year-old dean of the college, Re, prayed for cardinals to find the wisdom, counsel and understanding to elect a worthy new shepherd.
Wearing bright red vestments, the cardinals processed down the central aisle of the basilica as the Sistine Chapels boys choir sang.
They took up their seats around the main altar, which lies above the traditional burial place of St. Peter, considered to be the first pope.
Re presided over Francis' funeral, delivering a heartfelt sermon recalling history's first Latin American pope and the reforming 12-year papacy he oversaw.
More pictures from Rome
A man kneels and prays at St. Peters Square while the Holy Mass is celebratedCredit: Reuters
The special mass is called Pro eligendo papa or For the Election of the PopeCredit: EPA
Cardinals celebrate the massCredit: Reuters
Mass begins ahead of conclave
A mass has begun in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican ahead of the conclave beginning later in the day.
People watch a Holy Mass on a large screen in Saint Peters Square in the VaticanCredit: Reuters
Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, presides over the Holy MassCredit: Reuters
Members of the clergy sit for mass in St. Peters BasilicaCredit: Reuters
Thanks for following us
We’ll keep you updated here with all the latest news and best reaction as the 133 cardinals in the Vatican prepare to vote for the next pontiff following the death of Pope Francis.
I'll now hand you over to my colleagues in the live blogging team who will take you through proceedings – right up until the point we see white smoke rising above the roof of the historic Sistine Chapel.
Rome wakes to the first day of the conclave
Saint Peters Basilica in the early morning light on WednesdayCredit: Reuters
A Catholic bishop walks in a back street near the VaticanCredit: Reuters
Cardinals are seen in a chapel ahead of a special mass, prior to the start of the conclaveCredit: AFP
Fist fights and ghosts – past Conclaves
The Conclave that elected Paul V in 1605 included a fist fight between cardinals, in which they ripped the lacy bits off their rochets, while in 1605 a group of young cardinals, bored with weeks-long deadlock, decided to play a prank on older colleagues.
One dressed up as the Holy Ghost and surprised older members of the college in the dead of night.
A cardinal is said to have died of pneumonia after falling and lying on a cold floor in shock after a nocturnal visit.
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