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Cardinals return for 2nd day of voting in papal conclave | Live updates

The next pope will be the Catholic Church's 267th leader.

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Last updated: Thursday, May 8, 2025 9:50AM GMT
Cardinals hold second day of voting at conclave
Cardinals hold second day of voting at conclaveJoe Torres reports from The Vatican on the conclave.

VATICAN CITY -- The conclave to elect the 267th pope and successor to Pope Francis is now underway.

In total, 133 cardinals will be voting during this conclave, the most electors ever, with 108 of them being appointed by Pope Francis. Ten are from the United States.

All of the cardinals took an oath of secrecy before beginning daily votes, two times in the morning and two times in the evening. They will continue voting until two-thirds of the cardinals have agreed on a new pope.

The ballots are burned after each voting session, and the smoke will emanate from the chimney that was built on top of the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke means a majority has not been reached and the voting will continue. White smoke means a new holy leader of the Roman Catholic Church has been confirmed.

The last three popes were chosen within days.

(The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.)

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
ABCNews logo
May 08, 2025, 7:23 AM

What to expect from 2nd day of voting

Cardinals will return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday after the first voting session of the conclave on Wednesday failed to find consensus on who will become the next pope.

The electors are expected to participate in four rounds of voting through the course of the day.

The cardinals will gather for a mass in the Pauline Chapel at around 8 a.m. local time (2 a.m. ET), after which they will return to the Sistine Chapel at around 9:15 a.m. (3:15 a.m. ET) to vote.

Two ballot burnings are planned. One is expected at the end of the morning around 12 p.m. (6 a.m. ET) and the second in the evening at around 7 p.m. (1 p.m. ET)

-ABC News' Phoebe Natanson, Clark Bentson and Joe Simonetti

The morning sun shines on the St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals elect a new pope during the conclave at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025.
The morning sun shines on the St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals elect a new pope during the conclave at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025.
ABCNews logo
2 hours ago

An estimated 45,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square for first conclave vote

An estimated 45,000 people gathered in St Peter's Square to await the results of the first conclave vote, which had been expected some time after 7 p.m. but ended up coming in around 9 p.m., according to Vatican News.

After failing to come to a consensus, the College of Cardinals have gathered on Thursday morning for the second day of conclave, with up to four more opportunities for them to select the 267th pope.

-ABC News' Phoebe Natanson

People wait for the smoke billowing from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, where 133 cardinals gathered on the first day of the conclave, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
People wait for the smoke billowing from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, where 133 cardinals gathered on the first day of the conclave, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
ABCNews logo
2 hours ago

Crowds gather at the Vatican as cardinals prepare to vote

Crowds of people gathered to enter St. Peter's Square for day two of the conclave, hopeful that the first full day of voting by cardinal electors will produce a new pope.

More than 30,000 people gathered in the square on Wednesday to wait for the results of the first round of voting.

ABCNews logo
2 hours ago

The next pope elected will need 89 votes to achieve majority

As the second day of voting is set to begin, the next person elected pope will need at least 89 votes in order to achieve the majority from the College of Cardinals.

With no majority being achieved last night on the very first vote, Thursday presents up to four voting opportunities -- two in the morning and two in the evening -- bringing with it a possibility that the cardinals might coalesce around one of the candidates.

ABCNews logo
2 hours ago

What to expect from 2nd day of voting

Cardinals will return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday after the first voting session of the conclave on Wednesday failed to find consensus on who will become the next pope.

The electors are expected to participate in four rounds of voting through the course of the day.

The cardinals will gather for a mass in the Pauline Chapel at around 8 a.m. local time (2 a.m. ET), after which they will return to the Sistine Chapel at around 9:15 a.m. (3:15 a.m. ET) to vote.

Two ballot burnings are planned. One is expected at the end of the morning around 12 p.m. (6 a.m. ET) and the second in the evening at around 7 p.m. (1 p.m. ET)

-ABC News' Phoebe Natanson, Clark Bentson and Joe Simonetti

The morning sun shines on the St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals elect a new pope during the conclave at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025.
The morning sun shines on the St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals elect a new pope during the conclave at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025.
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