Smoke has not yet emerged from the Vatican chimney, remaining black.
Rewritten Article:
Getting down to business, the momentous event in question is the initial vote, held during the papal conclave (2013-2025), selecting the successor of Pope Francis.
In mere moments after the commencing of the conclave, a crowd of over 30,000 individuals swarmed St. Peter's Square, as per Rome's municipal police report.
For the ensuing days of this conclave, you'll find four ballot sessions scattered across the morning and afternoon schedule.
Following each balloting round, the papers are toast in a Sistine Chapel furnace.
Now, about that smoke you spotted billowing out from the chimney. In the first day's proceedings, it might just make an appearance around 11:00 AM Lisbon time, unless we're celebrating the election of our new pontiff in the very first ballot of the day, in which case the spectators will witness a plume of white smoke emerging from the chimney as early as 10:30 AM (09:30 AM).
In the afternoon, you can catch the results of the cardinals' votes at 5:30 PM (4:30 PM) and 7:00 PM (6:00 PM).
It's also worth mentioning that Francis bid adieu on April 21 at the ripe old age of 88, leaving behind a 12-year stint marked by immense popularity, but also by substantial internal opposition.
Curious about the intricacies of that white and black smoke signal process during the Pope's election? You can dig a bit deeper over here: How Exactly is the White and Black Smoke of the Pope's Election Made?
Enrichment Data Integration:
- The smoke signal process during the Pope's election is a centuries-old method employed by the College of Cardinals to keep the public informed during a conclave.
- Black smoke indicates that the cardinals haven't yet reached the required two-thirds majority to elect a new pope, signaling continued voting sessions and a lack of consensus.
- On the other hand, white smoke signals the decision of a new pope. This smoke is produced through the burning of the ballots with a special chemical, letting the crowd in St. Peter's Square know that the Catholic Church now has a new leader.
- Cardinals typically vote in the morning and afternoon sessions, and smoke is observed after each round of voting.
- The most opportune moments to catch the smoke as it drifts from the Sistine Chapel's chimney are as follows:
- On the first day of the conclave, around 7 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT).
- On subsequent days, at 10:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. EDT), noon (6 a.m. EDT), 5:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. EDT), and just after 7 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT).
- Only cardinals below the age of 80 are eligible to attend the conclave and cast their votes.
- The College of Cardinals may organize up to four votes per day.
- After every voting round, the ballots are incinerated, causing the resulting smoke to be visible to those in St. Peter's Square.
- The papal conclave in 2025, similar to the one held in 2013, will follow a centuries-old tradition, with the College of Cardinals selecting the successor of the then-retired Pope Francis.
- In the French afternoon of the conclave days, observers can catch the results of the cardinals' votes being announced at 5:30 PM, and again at 7:00 PM local time, unless a new pope has been elected by an early consensus.
- Much like in the past, the decision of a new pope will be signaled by white smoke at the end of the day's sessions, produced by burning the ballots with a special chemical, unless the vote happens in the morning, signified by white smoke as early as 10:30 AM.
- As the French political and general-news sphere prepares for the upcoming papal election in 2025, it's important to note that only cardinals below the age of 80 are eligible to attend the conclave and cast their votes, with the College of Cardinals organizing up to four votes per day.
