Conclave Smoke Livestream May 8: Watch for Results of Papal Election

Bishops and other senior officials of the Catholic Church will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the second day of voting on May 8 to elect Pope Francis’ successor.

The papal conclave, hosted by the College of Cardinals, began on Wednesday. Black smoke plumed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday night, indicating an inconclusive first vote. The cardinals are tasked with voting for one of their colleagues to take over the role of pontiff.

Before the election began, each cardinal took an oath of secrecy and the Sistine Chapel’s doors were sealed, sequestering the cardinals from the “outside world.” Each cardinal votes by secret ballot, says a prayer and then drops his ballot into a large chalice, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website states. The conclave concludes once one candidate receives a two-thirds majority vote.

What does the black or white smoke mean?

Because the cardinals are sequestered during a conclave, black or white smoke is used to represent the cardinals’ decisions for the day, bellowing from a Sistine Chapel chimney.

Black smoke indicates that one candidate has not received the necessary votes and more voting lies ahead.