TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The first smoke signal indicating the result of the papal conclave vote is expected to rise from the Sistine Chapel's chimney on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, “not before 7:00 p.m.” Vatican time, said the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, as quoted from Antara.
He said the cardinal electors will enter the chapel on Wednesday around 4:30 p.m. local time. This will be followed by a catechesis by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa and the swearing of the oath by the cardinals to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of the election.
Only then will the vote to elect the successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, begin.
Bruno explained that voting can be conducted up to four times each day, while smoke signals will only emerge twice a day until a new Pope is elected.
Therefore, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, or the second day of the conclave, the first smoke signal could appear around noon.
However, if a new Pope has been elected in the first vote that day, then white smoke will billow from the Sistine Chapel's chimney on Thursday around 10:30 a.m.
The next smoke signal will not appear until around 7:00 p.m. local time, unless the afternoon vote has determined a new Pope who is elected with white smoke emerging around 5:30 p.m.
The smoke signals emanate from the burned ballot papers of the cardinal's election, which takes place in the Sistine Chapel.
When burned, the ballot papers are mixed with chemicals to produce black or white smoke.
Black smoke indicates that no Pope has been chosen, while white smoke indicates the election of a new Pope of the Catholic Church.
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