Overview

• Black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney on May 7, signaling no candidate achieved the required two-thirds majority in the first ballot.
• The 133 cardinal electors, representing unprecedented geographic diversity, are confined to the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta under strict secrecy protocols.
• Up to four voting sessions are planned daily until a new pope is elected, with white smoke to indicate a successful vote.
• A two-thirds majority, equating to at least 89 votes, is required to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church, representing 1.4 billion faithful worldwide.
• This conclave, the largest ever, reflects late appointments by Pope Francis, who expanded representation from regions traditionally underrepresented in the College of Cardinals.