1. From Black Smoke to White Smoke: The Conclave Unfolds
1.1 The Initial Days of the Conclave
The papal election began on May 7, 2025, as 115 cardinal electors under the age of 80 were sealed inside the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. In accordance with centuries-old tradition, they took an oath of secrecy, surrendering all forms of outside communication—mobile phones, newspapers, and internet access—to avoid external influence on their deliberations.
1.2 Signaling Progress: The Smoke Ritual
Each ballot concluded with the lighting of damp straw under the chapel chimney, producing black smoke to indicate no decision. For two full days, onlookers in St. Peter’s Square and countless spectators worldwide gazed expectantly at the chimney, interpreting each black plume as a sign of ongoing debate. Then, on the morning of May 8 at precisely 11:47 a.m. local time, the black clouds gave way to white smoke, announcing that a candidate had secured the required two-thirds majority.
1.3 The Proclamation on St. Peter’s Basilica
Moments later, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. In a solemn declaration, he proclaimed: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!” (“I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope!”). The world learned that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago had been chosen as the 267th successor to St. Peter and had adopted the regnal name Pope Leo XIV.
2. The Passing of Pope Francis and the Road to a New Pontificate
2.1 Pope Francis’s Final Days
On Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, Vatican officials announced that Pope Francis had suffered a severe cerebrovascular accident. Despite emergency medical interventions, His Holiness peacefully passed away that afternoon at the age of 88. His 12-year pontificate was characterized by a focus on social justice, environmental stewardship, and pastoral outreach to the margins of society.
2.2 A Nine-Day Mourning Period
Tradition calls for a Novemdiales, a nine-day period of official mourning. During these nine days, thousands of faithful visited St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects as the late pontiff’s coffin lay in state. On April 30, a solemn funeral Mass was celebrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, after which the Church formally entered the interregnum—sede vacante—awaiting the election of a new bishop of Rome.
3. Understanding the Conclave: Rituals, Restrictions, and Reverence
3.1 Historical Foundations
The modern conclave stems from reforms enacted at the Second Council of Lyon in 1274 by Pope Gregory X, who sought to expedite papal elections plagued by political interference and undue delay. The Latin term conclave literally means “with a key,” signifying the locked doors that seal the cardinals away from external pressures.
3.2 Secrecy and Symbolism
Oath of Confidentiality: Cardinals swear to maintain absolute silence regarding all proceedings.
Locked Accommodations: Electors reside in the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse, cut off from emails, news outlets, and telephone calls.
Daily Voting Sessions: Up to four ballots occur each day—two in the morning and two in the afternoon—until a clear winner emerges.
Smoke Signals: Black smoke denotes inconclusive votes; white smoke signals successful election.
These rituals underscore the sacredness of the process and the weighty responsibility borne by each elector.
4. Introducing Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost: Pope Leo XIV
