Conclave 2025 live: Cardinals begin secret election to choose new Pope in Sistine Chapel – UK Times

All eyes are on Vatican City for the sign of a new pope.

Smoke indicating whether or not the 267th pope has been chosen could come from the specially erected chimney of the Sistine Chapel as early as Wednesday evening.

If black smoke rises into the air over St Peter’s Square, it will confirm no one achieved the required two-thirds majority, and voting will resume on Thursday.

Up to four votes a day can take place from then, two in the morning and two in the afternoon, with white smoke confirming a new pope has been chosen.

Just over a week ago, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Rome and the Vatican to farewell the much-loved Pope Francis.

Here are the key moments from that historic funeral.

The conclave has begun, but earlier the cardinals all swore oaths of secrecy in Latin.

Watch that ceremony here:

Archbishop Diego Ravelli has called out “Extra omnes,” Latin for “all out.”

It means anyone not eligible to vote must leave the Sistine Chapel.

The doors will be closed and ceremonially locked, allowing the work of the conclave to begin.

The word conclave comes from the Latin, con clave, which means ‘with a key’.

Many people have gathered in St Peter’s Basilica to watch the ceremonies leading up to the start of the conclave.

The cardinals are continuing to swear their oaths.

The cardinals are currently taking the vow of secrecy, before the conclave begins.

The Vatican News reports they are going in order of seniority.

First was Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who has been the Vatican’s secretary of state for more than a decade. He was, before Pope Francis died, the second most senior member of the Catholic Church.

Faithful, tourists and the media gathered in St Peter’s Square to watch as the cardinals go through the last ceremony before the conclave begins.

The oath all 133 cardinals must swear to is now being read.

The oath is in Latin, but each cardinal must swear to uphold the secrets of the election of the Pope, including how they came to the decision, unless the new pontiff decides the deliberations can be made public.

Each cardinal must now make their vow while placing their hand on the Book of the Gospels.

As the cardinals file into the Sistine Chapel, they bow in pairs at the altar.

Behind the altar is a crucifix, and behind that is Michelangelo’s Jesus the Judge mural.

Shortly, they will make their oaths before the conclave can begin.

The cardinals are slowly walking past the Swiss Guards in a short procession to enter the Sistine Chapel.

Led by a crucifix, the clergy are chanting the Litany of the Saints as they lead the 133 cardinal electors into the chapel.