No pope named as black smoke rises on historic conclave's first day: Live updates

Black smoke plumed over the Vatican into the night sky in Rome on Wednesday, signaling the historic papal conclave did not reach consensus on a successor to Pope Francis − and the cardinals will reconvene at the Sistine Chapel on Thursday.

Tens of thousands had packed St. Peter's Square as darkness fell, all eyes watching for smoke from the iconic chapel's chimney.

∎ Earlier Wednesday, a solemn procession of 133 elector cardinals from across the globe moved slowly into the chapel, chanting the "Litany of the Saints." The cardinals each recited an oath pledging to follow the rules of the conclave.

∎ When the doors finally closed, the cardinals went into seclusion for the first round of voting.

∎ The secretive process is expected to take multiple days and will result in new leadership for the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics.

With no clear favorite for election, first smoke figured to be black

The first smoke signal indicating whether a pope had been chosen wafted into the Italian sky Wednesday night, and it came as no surprise it was black, indicating no decision has been reached.

A quick resolution was unlikely in a gathering with no clear favorite to succeed Pope Francisand differing views about whether the church should follow the progressive path he set or take a more conservative direction.

Despite his low profile at the time, it took less than two days for then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina to earn the two-thirds majority of votes required, as he became the first Latin American pontiff in 2013. Now the world will await however long it takes to greet the white smoke that will signal a new pope has been elected.

Cardinal Dolan of NY expects conclave to last 3-4 days

A day before electors were sequestered to begin the conclave, an American cardinal shed light on the secretive process of electing a new pope, saying this one could take three or four days in part because there are many worthy candidates.

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New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, one of 10 U.S. cardinals participating in the vote, told SiriusXM’s Catholic Channel on Tuesday that participants consult with each other to learn more about contenders they might not know well.

“We're not horse trading here,’’ Dolan said. “We're saying, ‘Tell me about this guy. You're from Latin America. Go through the list of bishops. Tell me some of these fellas. Am I right to be enchanted by this guy?’”

Dolan related a conversation he had with his friend Giuseppe Betori, an Italian cardinal who served as archbishop of Florence from 2008-2024. Dolan said it was helpful to learn from Betori about Italian cardinals and bishops, and in turn he shared his thoughts about American candidates.

With 108 of the 133 cardinals joining the voting ranks during Francis’ 12-year tenure, and at least 25 of them coming from countries that have never voted before, those exchanges may be more valuable than ever in what’s regarded as a wide-open contest.

“People say, ‘Oh, do you have a problem choosing a candidate?’’’ Dolan said. “I’m saying, ‘Yeah, not because there's not enough of them, but because there’s quite a few of them.’’

A battle for the soul of the church: What's at stake in conclave this week

High-tech measures protect secrecy for an ancient ritual

The electors have been banned since medieval times from communicating with outsiders during conclaves. In keeping with current times, the Vatican has taken high-tech measures to ensure secrecy, including the use of jamming devices.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the group's Mass at the start of the day for the Election of the Roman Pontiff at St. Peter's Basilica. He called for unity in faith and prayer and said the new pope is facing a "difficult, complex and troubled turning point in history."

Cardinal Robert McElroy, archbishop of Washington, D.C., called the conclave process "profound and mysterious," and said of any possible favorites to succeed Francis: "I can give you no insights into who is ahead.''

More than 200 of the 266 popes were natives of Italy, although it's been 47 years since an Italian served as pontiff. Francis was the first from Latin America; there have been none hailing from the U.S. Numerous cardinals from Italy and other nations are considered contenders.

Seagulls steal the show: Birds delight on papal conclave livestream. Viewers (and cats) love it.

When does the new pope get chosen?

It has been centuries since a candidate emerged with the two-thirds majority required to become pope on the first ballot. The cardinals can vote only once Wednesday, then likely will need to reconvene Thursday morning. A Mass will be celebrated in the Pauline Chapel before they return to the Sistine Chapel for midmorning prayer and that day's rounds of voting. Up to four rounds of voting are permitted each day.

At the conclusion of Thursday's voting, there will an evening prayer before they return to their lodging at Casa Santa Marta. If the votes failed to result in someone receiving a two-thirds majority, they will return for more voting Friday − and as many days as is required to elect a pontiff.

After a cardinal receives the required number of votes and agrees to take on the monumental task, white smoke will signal his selection.

What time does the conclave start? See May 7 schedule

Front-runners for pope: Who is favored to be the next pope?

Some of the cardinals frequently mentioned as candidates to succeed Francis include non-Italians Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, of the Philippines, a liberal sometimes referred to as "Francis 2," and Peter Erdo, 72, of Hungary, who is considered a favorite among the more conservative cardinals.

Tagle has a fan in Myra Beye, who has lived in Rome for years but is originally from the Philippines. “That’s why I’m here today, to support him, even though my prayers will be with whoever is elected,” Beye, 25, told the Associated Press at St. Peter's Square.

There have been 266 popes, and 217 of the have been Italian. Italy has strong contenders this time, too, including top candidate Pietro Parolin, 70, the Vatican Secretary of State who is considered a moderate, and Matteo Zuppi, 69, a close associate of Francis.

Who are the top contenders? A look at the leading candidates to become pope

How long does a conclave usually last?

One round of voting is expected Wednesday, then up to four rounds can take place each subsequent day. There is no set time limit for the conclave, but recent conclaves have lasted only a few days. Since 1846, cardinals have taken two to five days to make decisions on the past 12 popes.

The Rev. Patrick Flanagan, associate professor of theology and religious studies at St. John’s University in New York, says Gregory X made it clear that conclaves should be focused − and expeditious.

"According to the original prescription, if a pope had not been elected after three days, a cardinal was restricted to one dish at their meals," Flanagan said. "After eight days, only bread, wine and water!"

What was the longest conclave in history?

After Pope Clement IV died in November 1268, cardinals met in Viterbo, Italy, about 68 miles from Rome, to vote on a successor. The papacy was vacant for almost three years as disagreements dragged on. Frustrated citizens of Viterbo finally locked the cardinals in the Episcopal Palace and “even removed the roof to expose them to the elements, hoping to expedite the decision-making process,” according to ucatholic.com.

The eventual winner, Gregory X, tightened up conclave rules. The longest conclave in modern times, in 1903, ended when Pope Pius X was chosen after five days.

Most common pope names: John, Gregory, Benedict and Pius

The first thing the new pope will do is choose a name. In the history of the papacy, the most commonly used name has been John, first chosen in 523 by Saint John I, the Vatican says. The last pope to choose that name was Italian Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, elected Pope John XXIII, in 1958. Roncalli was proclaimed a saint by Pope Francis in 2014.

Other frequently used names include Gregory, in honor of Pope Gregory I, commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great (590-604). The last to use that name was Gregory XVI in 1831. Benedict has been chosen 16 times, including by Francis' predecessor, Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, in 2005.

Other popular pope names include Clement, Innocent, Leo and Pius. Seven of 11 popes from 1775 to 1958 were named Pius, from Pius VI (1775–1799) to Pius XII (1939–1958).

Swiss Guard, papal heroes of the 16th century

The Swiss Guard, the pope’s iconic bodyguards, are protecting the Sistine Chapel as cardinals assemble to elect a new pope. They look ceremonial in their Renaissance-style uniforms that serve as homage to the epic last stand the guards once made to defend a pope. It's a declaration they are willing to do so again, according to Bry Jensen, a historian and host of a podcast about the papacy.

In 1527, renegade soldiers from the Holy Roman Empire were indignant over not being paid and attacked Rome. The attack came amid burgeoning anti-church sentiment in Europe.

“147 of the 189 Swiss Guards including their commander died to give Pope Clement VII time enough to escape," Jensen, host of the Pontifacts show, told USA TODAY. Read more here.

Swiss Guards: A dramatic role as papal bodyguards

How does the voting take place?

Here are the specifics of the voting process, according to the Vatican:

Each cardinal writes the name of his chosen candidate on a ballot, folds it, holds it aloft and carries it to the altar in order of rank. The cardinal places the ballot on a plate covering a chalice and says, in Italian: “I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one whom I believe should be elected according to God."

The cardinal then uses the plate to drop the vote into the chalice, bows to the altar and returns to his seat. Cardinals who are unable to walk give their folded ballot to a "scrutineer," who follows the same procedure without reciting the oath again.

Any cardinals who are too ill to be in the chapel are given ballots and a sealed box with a slit where the folded ballots can be inserted. Once the votes are cast, the "infirmarii" bring the box back to the chapel, where it is opened in front of the electors. The votes are counted and added to those already in the main chalice.

How are the ballots for pope counted?

After all votes have been cast, one of three scrutineers shakes the chalice to mix the ballots. Another scrutineer then counts them, transferring them into an empty container. If the number of ballots doesn’t match the number of voters, all ballots are burned and a new vote is held immediately. If the count is correct, the ballots are opened and read.

The scrutineers sit at a table before the altar. The first reads the name written on a ballot and passes it to the second, who confirms the name and hands it to the third, who reads it aloud for everyone to hear and records the vote.

Once all ballots have been read and the votes tallied, the final scrutineer pierces each ballot with a needle and threads them together with string. The ends of the string are tied in a knot, and the ballots are stored for safekeeping. The count is checked and verified, and before the electors leave the Sistine Chapel, all the ballots are burned in a cast-iron stove.