Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

Cardinals continue voting in 2025 Papal Conclave to elect new Pope

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 8 May 2025 11:56
4 Min Read

Crowds gather in St. Peter's Square as 133 cardinals vote in the 2025 Papal Conclave to choose a successor to Pope Francis, with no name yet emerging.

Listen
  • x
  • A drone used for TV broadcast is attacked by a seagull above St. Peter's Square where 133 cardinals are gathering on the second day of the conclave to elect successor of late Pope Francis, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
    A drone used for a TV broadcast is attacked by a seagull above St. Peter's Square, where 133 cardinals are gathering on the second day of the conclave to elect the successor of late Pope Francis, at the Vatican, on May 8, 2025. (AP)

Crowds of Catholics and tourists filled St. Peter's Square on Thursday as they fixed their gaze on the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, waiting for the moment when white smoke would rise and signal the election of a new pope to succeed the late Pope Francis.

The wait continued from Wednesday evening, when black smoke signaled that the cardinals had yet to reach the required two-thirds majority.

Despite the disappointment, the mood among those gathered remained generally hopeful, as many saw the continued voting as a sign that the process was being taken seriously.

James Kleineck (37), from Texas expressed faith in the outcome to AFP by saying, “I don't mind that it's black smoke, it shows the Holy Spirit is at work, there will be other votes soon enough, we will get our pope.”

Others like Barbara Mason, a 50-year-old Canadian who traveled for the occasion, echoed a sense of appreciation for the time being taken, telling AFP that the process showed reflection and care, and she voiced support for a candidate like Matteo Maria Zuppi, believing he could be a worthy continuation of Pope Francis's progressive direction.

On Thursday morning, a thinner but steady crowd arrived early to secure spots for the day’s events. Among them was Paul O’Flynn, a 72-year-old Irishman visiting from New York, who described the atmosphere as deeply moving and unlike anything he had expected to witness in his lifetime.

Related News

Pope Leo XIV calls for press freedom, release of jailed journalists

White smoke rises: US Cardinal Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV - Vatican

Inside the Conclave: Cardinals seek divine guidance

The 133 cardinals participating in the conclave spent the night in the Santa Marta guesthouse, and on Thursday they began their day with private masses to seek divine guidance before heading into the second day of voting, which was expected to follow a structured schedule of four rounds: two in the morning and two more in the afternoon if needed.

Only after the second vote of each session does smoke rise from the chimney, with black indicating no result and white marking the election of a new pope, and as ballots are burned with chemical additives to ensure the smoke’s clarity, the signal becomes the only communication the outside world receives from the secretive proceedings.

Cardinals are bound by an oath of secrecy and remain locked in the Sistine Chapel until a new pope is chosen, and any violation of this oath is met with the penalty of excommunication, reinforcing the solemn nature of the process that has been shaped by centuries of tradition and internal rules.

While the last two conclaves in 2005 and 2013 concluded within two days, longer ones have occurred in history, including some in the 20th century that stretched to five days, and the longest on record lasted nearly three years between 1268 and 1271.

Challenges ahead for the next pope

The 2025 Papal Conclave brings together cardinals from around 70 countries, making it the largest and most international gathering of its kind, and many of those present had not met before.

With no clear front-runner emerging, speculation continues around more than a dozen potential candidates, and opinions among the electors remain divided between those wishing to continue the legacy of Pope Francis and others who favor a shift back toward more traditional interpretations of doctrine and leadership.

All voting cardinals are under the age of 80, and approximately 80 percent were appointed by Pope Francis, a pope known for his impulsive yet charismatic advocacy for the downtrodden.

As the voting continues, the world outside waits for the white smoke that will signal a new era of Catholic Church leadership, and while the identity of the 267th pope remains unknown, the weight of the moment is clear for both those inside the chapel and the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world looking toward what comes next.

  • Catholic Church
  • Papal conclave
  • St. Peter's Square
  • Pope Francis
  • Vatican

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS