---
title: "Black smoke signals no pope elected in morning conclave votes"
description: "VATICAN CITY, May 8 (Reuters) - Black smoke appeared from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on Thursday, signalling that cardinals meeting in a secret conclave did not elect a new pope during their two morning ballots."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-08-black-smoke-signals-no-pope-elected-in-morning-conclave-votes/"
published: "2025-05-08T12:03:46"
updated: "2025-05-08T12:03:48"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 40
---

# Black smoke signals no pope elected in morning conclave votes

> VATICAN CITY, May 8 (Reuters) - Black smoke appeared from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on Thursday, signalling that cardinals meeting in a secret conclave did not elect a new pope during their two morning ballots.

By Reuters · Published 8 May 2025, 14:03 SAST · Updated 8 May 2025, 14:03 SAST

## Key points
- In a heavenly game of electoral poker, the cardinals are shuffling their votes daily, hoping for a divine hand to emerge and break the papal stalemate.
- Cardinals conducted an initial inconclusive vote on Wednesday evening.
- Daily voting schedule includes two sessions each morning and afternoon.
- A two-thirds majority is required to elect the next pontiff.
- The election process is ongoing as cardinals seek a decisive outcome.

## Content

The cardinals held an initial inconclusive vote on Wednesday evening. They now hold two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon daily until someone wins the necessary two-thirds majority to become the next pontiff.

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer)