Update 5/7/25 3:15 p.m. ET: Black smoke was seen at the Vatican, meaning no new Pope was chosen on the first round.

Black smoke signalled the end of the first day of the conclave at 21:00, hours after the doors of the Sistine Chapel were closed with the words, "Extra omnes" or "Everyone out."

This means the conclave will continue tomorrow morning when the Cardinal electors will gather once… pic.twitter.com/Yyo0BTsdvG

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 7, 2025

This means the conclave will continue tomorrow morning when the Cardinal electors will gather once more in the Chapel around 10:30am Rome time to cast their votes again for the election of the 267th Pope.

Original story:

The images are stunning. The sense of history and faith and tradition are strong.

The consequences of the Papal Conclave that officially began Wednesday are also profound; at the end of the mysterious time-honored procedure, a new head of the Catholic Church will have been named.

The possible candidates come from all around the globe:

Let the voting – and prayers – begin. One hundred and thirty-three Roman Catholic cardinals from 66 countries gathered for Mass on Wednesday morning before the start of a conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis now underway behind the Vatican’s walls.

Of the sequestered churchmen, 52 hail from Europe, 23 Asia, 17 South or Central America, 17 Africa, 20 North America, and four Oceania.

The Conclave has begun. The College of Cardinals have processed out of the Pauline Chapel into the Sistine a chapel where the Conclave will begin shortly. pic.twitter.com/TbdDgpNQ3y

— Raymond Arroyo (@RaymondArroyo) May 7, 2025

After all the dignitaries had gathered, the doors officially shut and will stay that way until a new Pope is chosen:

After the assembled cardinals take their oaths, a senior cardinal delivers a meditation, but the conclave does not officially begin until the master of papal liturgical ceremonies calls out “Extra omnes,” Latin for “all out” and the doors slammed closed.

The process began in Rome at 4:30 p.m. local time after the cardinals walked solemnly into the frescoed Sistine Chapel, chanting the meditative “Litany of the Saints” and the Latin hymn “Veni Creator.”

The doors of the Sistine Chapel have been closed.

The conclave has begun.

Pray. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ytoSG7Po25

— CatholicVote (@CatholicVote) May 7, 2025

More: Donald Trump Sets Internet on Fire As He Posts AI Picture of Himself As Pope

BREAKING: Pope Francis Dead at 88

The process could go quickly—or it could go on for an extended period:

The College of Cardinals […] will be sequestered inside the Vatican to pray, discern and vote for the next pope without distraction. They will host their first and only vote of the day this evening in the Sistine Chapel.

A two-thirds majority is required for a new pope to be elected. Voting sessions on subsequent days, should they be needed, will occur regularly in the morning and afternoon until a pope is selected.

As you may already know or have read about in books like Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons" and movies like "Conclave," watch for the smoke:

Smoke watch: After voting, ballots are burned in a special stove — black smoke signals no decision, while white smoke means a new pope has been chosen. Smoke is expected to rise from the Vatican chimney around 7 p.m.

As dictated by tradition, the new pope will need a two-thirds majority. With 133 in the room, 89 cardinals must write his name on their secret ballot papers.

If no clear winner emerges in the initial ballot, the cardinals will vote four times a day, twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, until a majority emerges.

The world, and its 1.4 billion Catholics, will be paying close attention to these momentous events. RedState will keep you updated as new developments arrive.

This is the day we enter the conclave and I’m about to go into the Domus Sanctae Marthae, named after St. Martha, who took care of hospitality for Jesus. We leave here and go over to the Sistine Chapel every day for prayers and voting, but this is where we reside. I won’t be able… pic.twitter.com/uO0zGdrwbo

— Cardinal Dolan (@CardinalDolan) May 7, 2025

 I won’t be able to talk to you until you see the white smoke. Keep us in your prayers!