CNN: Day Two of Papal Conclave Begins, May 8, 2025!

Day Two of Papal Conclave Begins: Cardinals Return to Vote for Pope Francis’s Successor

The cardinals are gathering again today in the Sistine Chapel for the second day of voting to elect a new pope. With no clear winner on the first day, the focus now shifts to whether one of today’s four possible voting rounds will bring consensus.

There are 133 cardinals eligible to vote, and a two-thirds majority — 89 votes — is required to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church. Until that happens, the cardinals remain secluded inside the Vatican.

After a quiet start this morning, the only hint we’ll get about their progress will come from the chimney atop the chapel. Black smoke means no decision. White smoke means a new pope has been chosen.

If a pope is elected in the first vote this morning, white smoke could appear around 10:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. ET). If not, expect more smoke signals throughout the day — possibly around midday or in the late afternoon.

So far, the Catholic world remains in suspense. On Wednesday, black smoke signaled that no pope was chosen, as expected. Historically, it’s rare for a pope to be elected on the first day. In fact, Pope Francis himself was chosen during the final vote of the second day back in 2013!