The Catholic Church's cardinal electors entered the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor to Pope Francis, as the 2025 papal conclave begins.

The process of choosing a successor to the late Pope Francis, and shaping the future of the Catholic Church, has begun. Here's what to know.

Black smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney Wednesday evening, indicating that no pope was elected on the conclave’s 1st ballot. Today’s live updates have ended. Read what you missed below and follow Thursday’s live coverage.

A new pope will be selected when a candidate gets a two-thirds-plus-one majority vote by the cardinal electors. White smoke will be sent up the chimney of the Sistine Chapel when that happens, to indicate a new pope has been chosen.

The papal conclave has already begun, according to USA Today reporting.

Black smoke billowed over the Vatican on Wednesday to signal that no candidate received the required two-thirds majority of cardinal electors to become the next pope. The big picture: White smoke is probably not far off.

May 6, 2025 • As more than a billion Catholics around the world await the election of a new pope, all eyes are on the Sistine Chapel, where 133 cardinals started the secretive process known as a conclave.

It took just two days for the College of Cardinals to elect a new Pope less than a month after the death of Francis

Catholic cardinals are gathering at the Vatican for the 2025 conclave to choose Pope Francis' successor. Here's how long it could take.

The papal conclave has begun, with cardinals gathering to elect the next pope. Here's how to watch coverage from California.

The papal conclave was officially over at around 6 p.m. local time Thursday after white smoke was seen rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling a new pope had been elected.