CONCLAVE WATCH 2025

Papal Election 2025 – Breaking News – Vatican News – Conclave News

‘POPE LEO XIV’
Robert Francis Prevost
American, 69 years old

Daily Coverage of Conclave: DAY TWO (May 8, 2025)

• FIRST SMOKE STATUS: BLACK SMOKE rose at 09:50 UTC (11:50 am Rome time)
• Black Smoke: No election after morning of first full day of conclave (Vatican News)
• SECOND SMOKE STATUS: WHITE SMOKE!
• WHITE SMOKE! BELLS RINGING, CROWDS CHEERING, WAITING FOR ANNOUNCEMENT (Novus Ordo Watch)
• Habemus Papam! (Vatican News)
• ‘Pope Leo XIV’ – Cardinal Prevost is New Head of Vatican II Church (Novus Ordo Watch)
• Leo XIV is the new Pope (Vatican News)
• Video: ‘Habemus Papam’ Announcement (Rome Reports)
• Video: First Remarks and Blessing of ‘Pope’ Leo XIV (Rome Reports)

Daily Coverage of Conclave: DAY ONE (May 7, 2025)

• SMOKE STATUS: BLACK SMOKE rose at 19:00 UTC (9:00 pm Rome time)
• The Search for Bergoglio’s Successor – Day 1: The Conclave Begins (Novus Ordo Watch)
• Video: LIVE from the Vatican | Conclave 2025: Cardinals’ Procession, Entry and Oath in the Sistine Chapel
• Video: The FIRST Vote of the Conclave – LIVE Watch Party (Joe McClane)
• Video: LIVE from the Vatican | Waiting for the smoke / First Fumata of the Conclave (EWTN)
• Video: Conclave 2025: Cardinals take oath of secrecy and fidelity | Full video (EWTN)
• Record number of faithful fill St. Peter’s Square on first evening of conclave (Catholic Vote)
• Black smoke signals end of first day of conclave (Vatican News)

Conclave Details

• Start of Conclave: May 7, 2025 (Mass 08:00 UTC | Entry into Conclave 14:30 UTC)
• Duration of Conclave: indefinite (usually a few days)
• Location: Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
• Dean: Giovanni Battista Re
• Vice-Dean: Leonardo Sandri
• Presiding Cardinal Elector: Pietro Parolin
• Camerlengo (Chamberlain): Kevin Joseph Farrell
• Senior Cardinal-Deacon: Dominique François Joseph Mamberti (will announce “Habemus Papam”)
• Master of Ceremonies: Diego Giovanni Ravelli
• Total number of participating electors: 133 (names)
• Total number of votes needed to be elected: 89 (two-thirds’ majority)
• Chimney Cam: LIVE VIEW OF CHIMNEY HERE
• News Ticker: Live Updates from Catholic News Agency
• Oath of Officials and Conclave Officers: Notification | Event | Video
• Holy Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff (May 7, 2025): Video and Photos | Booklet | Sermon
• Entry into Conclave and Oath (May 7, 2025): Video and Photos | Booklet | English Text of Oath

Official Vatican Information

• Vacancy of the Apostolic See 2025
• Conclave is governed in accordance with the following decrees:
  • John Paul II, Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis (Feb. 22, 1996)
  • Benedict XVI, Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio Constitutione Apostolica (June 11, 2007)
  • Benedict XVI, Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio Normas Nonnullas (Feb. 22, 2013)
• College of Cardinals
• College of Cardinals – Interactive Dashboard
• College of Cardinals – Biographical Notes
• College of Cardinals – Statistics
• Conclave to elect new Pope to begin on May 7th
• Swearing in of the Officials and Attendants of the Conclave (Apr. 29, 2025)
• Holy See Communiqué (Apr. 29, 2025)
• Declaration of the Congregation of Cardinals (Apr. 30, 2025)
• Statement of the Holy See (Apr. 30, 2025)
• Upcoming conclave will be first with more than 120 Cardinal electors
• Sistine Chapel chimney installed ahead of conclave
• Sistine Chapel prepared to host Cardinals for conclave on May 7
• The Conclave from the Middle Ages to the present day
• How locking cardinals in a room became known as a conclave
• Conclave: How a Pope is elected
• Video: Highlights of Entry into Conclave (May 7, 2025)
• Video: ‘Extra Omnes!’ – Conclave Proper Begins (May 7, 2025)
• How to follow Papal Election on Vatican Media
• The history of the names of the Successors of Peter
• The Conclave begins

General Conclave 2025 Information

• Conclave – 2025 (Catholic Hierarchy)
• Conclave – 2025 – Information, Statistics, Participants, Details (Catholic Hierarchy)
• Video: From Death to Conclave: 10 Things That Happen When a Pope Dies (Purely Catholic)
• Before ‘habemus papam’ (The Pillar)
• From sede vacante to conclave: Key terms to know at the start of a papal transition (Catholic World Report)
• Special terms used during the period between popes (The Catholic Weekly)
• Conclave explained: A simple guide to the papal election (La Croix International)
• Preparing the Sacred Space for the Conclave (Il Messaggero)
• How the conclave works: smoke, ballots, quorum (ANSA)
• How the conclave works: It’s guided by a rule book and a prayer book (OSV News)
• The new pope: How journalists (and cardinals) come up with their list of candidates (America)
• Politics, secrecy and excommunication in a conclave — and before (The Pillar)
• CNA explains: What is a conclave and how does it work? (Catholic News Agency)
• The Path to Papal Election (Il Messaggero)
• Secluded in the conclave – expert on technical possibilities (Katholisch.de)
• Conclave: Officials and staff swear ‘absolute secrecy’ (ANSA)
• Video: What The Media Isn’t Telling You About The Conclave (Diocese of Springfield in Illinois)
• The history of the Sistine Chapel—where cardinals will choose the next pope (America)
• White smoke vs. black smoke: How do we know when we have a new pope? (Life Site)
• Conclaves have internal dynamics. Here is why this year’s is most like 1958’s. (National Catholic Reporter)
• What’s in a name? How popes pick their names, and other papal name oddities (The Pillar)
• What Universi Dominici Gregis Does—And Doesn’t—Prohibit (Unam Sanctam Catholicam)
• According To Statistics, Betting Houses and Cardinals’ Statements, How Many Days Will The Conclave Last? (Zenit)
• PHOTO GALLERY: how the Sistine Chapel is getting ready to host the Conclave 2025 (Zenit)
• Five unwritten rules for becoming pope (La Croix International)
• Are conclaves really secret? (La Croix International)
• What Name Will the Next Pope Choose? (National Catholic Register)
• Video: Vatican conclave: Everything you need to know about the meeting to pick the next pope (Eyewitness News ABC7NY)
• What’s happening when? A conclave watcher’s guide (The Pillar)
• Demystifying the Conclave (Where Peter Is)
• Conclave: rules, profiles, duration and curiosities (Omnes)
• Inside the conclave: How a pope is elected (La Croix International)
• Key Vatican locations to know about as the conclave begins (Catholic World Report)
• The conclave: A detailed explainer of the secret ritual that elects the pope (National Catholic Reporter)
• What happens until the “Habemus Papam”? (Katholisch.de)
• Everything you need to know about this week’s conclave (National Catholic Reporter)
• The history behind ‘habemus papam’ and the white smoke that announces a new pope (Catholic World Report)
• Conclave secrecy from Extra omnes to Habemus papam (New Daily Compass)
• Towards the Next Pope: What To Expect from the Conclave (The European Conservative)
• Conclave Predictions: The Length Will Indicate What Lies Ahead (Rorate Caeli)
• Vatican security for conclave ‘sets a gold standard’ for organizations, says expert (OSV News)
• Behind the Headlines: What’s Really Happening in the Conclave (Where Peter Is)

The Cardinal Electors

• College of Cardinals – Interactive Dashboard
• College of Cardinals – General Information
• Explore the conclave: An interactive database of the men who will elect the next pope
• The College of Cardinals Report: Who they are, where they stand
• Conclave: Who will elect the next Pope?
• Who are the cardinal electors voting in the conclave?
• Who are the contenders to be pope?
• The cardinal electors, by the numbers
• The cardinals’ ‘Becciu Test’
• After cancellation: Cardinal takes part in the conclave after all
• Cardinal Becciu Withdraws Participation From Conclave
• Cardinal Becciu renounces participation in upcoming conclave
• Kenyan cardinal claims he wasn’t invited for conclave; Vatican says invite is automatic
• Possible controversy averted: Vatican, archbishop clarify African cardinal’s conclave absence

Further Information/Commentary on the Cardinals and So-Called Papabili

• How Pope Francis Left His Mark on the Conclave
• The Next Pope
• The Next Pope? It’s Complicated
• The Next Pope: Challenges and Uncertainties
• Pope Francis has appointed about 80 percent of the cardinals who will elect the next pope
• A Jewish guide to the cardinals who could succeed Francis
• Tradservative Dreams: Conciliar Nightmares
• THE UPCOMING CONCLAVE: A Close Look at the College of Cardinals
• Who will be the next pope? Here are some possible candidates
• Video: The Next Conclave w/ Edward Pentin
• Conclave Countdown: Qualities to Look for in the Next Pope
• Is Papa Parolin waiting in the wings?
• Video: The Next Papal Conclave Examined
• Cardinal Pietro Parolin – Who is really the Big Favorite of the moment?
• Who Could Be the Next Pope? — Parolin: Fake Moderate, Sincere Progressive
• Beyond Francis: Will His Controversial Legacy Be Continued?
• Matteo Zuppi: Papabile or ‘Decoy Name’ of the Progressives?
• The “Papabile” of the Community of Sant’Egidio Is Not Zuppi, but Tolentino
• The Unexpected Conservative Cardinal-Electors
• Kurt Koch – A New Age for Liturgy and Papacy?
• Video: Cardinal Müller Sends a Warning | Conclave Analysis
• Parolin Is the Candidate Being Noised About, But He’s a Lame Duck
• Cardinal Aveline is rumored to be the next pope. But is he Catholic?
• Who is Jean-Marc Aveline, the New Head of the French Church?
• Who will be the next pope? Inside the race to succeed Francis
• Editorial: This is the deciding factor in picking the next pope
• Could Cardinal Parolin be validly elected pope?
• Conclave frontrunner Cardinal Aveline redefines evangelization as ‘dialogue’
• These 8 cardinals may succeed Francis. Here’s what they believe
• Does Cardinal Erdő serve the Catholic Church or the Synodal Church?
• Papabile of the Day: Peter Erdo | Matteo Zuppi | Pietro Parolin | Jean-Marc Aveline | Luis Tagle | Fridolin Ambongo Besungu | Pierbattista Pizzaballa | Anders Arborelius | Francis Prevost | Mario Grech | Cristóbal López Romero | Malcolm Ranjith | Fernando Filoni
• A RORATE Guide to the Cardinals and the Conclave
• “The one who goes into the conclave a pope, comes out a cardinal”
• A Papal Candidate with Blood on his Hands
• ‘Discern and order’: Cardinal calls for continuation of Pope Francis’ reform path
• Novemdiales notebook: non-stop conclave speculation
• The Papal Prospects of Peter Erdő
• Top papal candidate says Francis’s legacy must continue
• Cardinal Zuppi could be pope: who is he?
• What the cardinals in the Vatican are currently talking about
• A RORATE Guide: The Who’s Who of Bad Options in the Conclave
• Video: Prayers for the Conclave: Are they Catholic?
• Pope Francis’ successor (according to the bookmakers)
• CNA explains: What is the St. Malachy prophecy, and why are people talking about it?
• Meet the 5 youngest cardinals taking part in the conclave
• Is Cardinal Gugerotti the Plan B if Cardinal Parolin is not elected?
• Conclave might be brief, next pope must be open to all, some cardinals say
• Once on the outs, American Cardinal Tobin now a contender
• Francis’ Successor According to Cardinals’ Statements: Part I | Part II | Part III
• Pope Francis’ cardinal picks bring new voices to the conclave
• Is Parolin forming a conclave alliance with Hungary’s Erdo?
• Conclave roundup: Parolin’s star falls, spotlight on synodality
• The game is on. Is John XXIV on his way? Yes, but also no.
• Conclave roundup: Cardinals’ debate over future of Catholic Church grows louder
• Cardinals address abuse, finances and evangelization ahead of conclave
• The ultra conservatives wanting to make the Vatican great again
• Latin America’s conclave wildcards
• Cardinals face litmus test on abuse ahead of conclave
• Video: The Real Factors Shaping the Next Pope
• Anti-Francis Lobby Launches Smear Campaigns to Discredit Rivals in Runup to Conclave
• Legacy and Catholic media promote one cardinal at the same time: Coincidence or campaign?
• Conclave frontrunner Cardinal Aveline’s views on Judaism subvert Church teaching
• Parolin may not be China’s preferred conclave candidate
• How Pope Francis shaped the College of Cardinals
• Podcast: Conclave: who is likely to succeed Francis?
• Vatican denies papal candidate Cardinal Parolin’s reported health scare
• American, Italian sites scramble to blame each other for fake news about Parolin
• Video: Cardinal Parolin Crisis | Conclave Analysis
• Tension mounts as conclave approaches
• The Italians are not united
• The NCR papal front-runners: Meet 12 men who could be pope
• Edward Pentin’s List of 10 Papal Contenders You Should Know
• With days to go, cardinals set to scrutinize ‘front-runners’
• Parolin, the great manipulator who wants to be Pope
• Cardinal Ambongo could be first African pope in over 1,500 years
• Meet the 10 US Cardinals Preparing to Elect the Next Pope
• Video: The Future of the Church: Papal Candidates Visions
• Lies and rumors about cardinals abound ahead of conclave
• 15 cardinals sketch the next pope’s portrait
• Leading Freemason supports Cardinal Parolin for Pope, says Francis had masonic ties
• Could Cardinal Prevost be the first American pope?
• Prevost and Co, anyone involved in sexual abuse should not be pope
• The knives are out for the conclave front-runner Parolin
• Video: Robert Moynihan of Inside the Vatican reports on the eve of the conclave
• Enter Cardinal Mamberti?
• Full dossier on Cardinal Prevost’s running of his Diocese
• Tagle, Parolin and now Prevost, all Bergoglians too tainted by their record to be Pope
• Is Cardinal Gugerotti the Plan B if Cardinal Parolin is not elected?
• Cardinal Czerny Causes Furor With Comments on a Potential African Pope
• Video: The 2025 Conclave | (Complete Analysis)
• Summarizing the pseudo-theology of conclave hopeful Cardinal Aveline
• Vaticanist Gagliarducci gives the names of the present “front-runners”

Twitter/X Accounts to Watch

• Novus Ordo Watch
• Inside the Vatican
• Robert Moynihan
• Edward Pentin
• Michael Haynes
• Diane Montagna
• Matt Gaspers
• Murray Rundus
• Catholic Family News
• Cesare Sacchetti
• Catholic Conclave
• Sandro Magister
• Raymond Arroyo
• Damian Thompson
• Rocco Palmo

Pre-Conclave General Congregations

• General Congregations of Cardinals begin in the Vatican (Apr. 22, 2025)
• Second General Congregation of Cardinals held in the Vatican (Apr. 23, 2025)
• Cardinals hold third General Congregation, begin conversation about Church (Apr. 24, 2025)
• Cardinals hold 4th General Congregation, prepare for ‘funeral of shepherd’ (Apr. 25, 2025)
• In the Synod Hall, Fifth General Congregation of the College of Cardinals (Apr. 28, 2025)
• Cardinals announce pre-conclave Mass at sixth General Congregation (Apr. 29, 2025)
• Cardinals discuss economic situation of the Holy See at General Congregation (Apr. 30, 2025)
• Cardinals discuss evangelisation and mission at eighth General Congregation (May 1, 2025)
• Cardinals discuss need for hope this Jubilee at ninth General Congregation (May 3, 2025)
• All 133 Cardinal electors arrive in Rome as Cardinals hold tenth General Congregation (May 5, 2025)
• 11th General Congregation focuses on migration, synodality, unity (May 5, 2025)
• 12th General Congregation focuses on necessary qualities for a future Pope (May 6, 2025)

Background to the 2025 Conclave

• What happens after the Pope dies?
• ‘There are no candidates in a conclave,’ says Filipino Cardinal David
• Cardinal Müller says it would be ‘catastrophic’ for conclave to elect ‘heretic pope’
• The new leader of the Catholic Church will inherit a financial mess
• Fr. Murray to Newsmax: Cardinals Likely to Pick Pope With ‘More Traditional View’ of Doctrine
• Social media push for Cardinal Sarah as next pope gains momentum
• Conclave: Charity never contradicts God’s commandments
• Is ‘next pope’ speculation inappropriate? Get over it!
• So Many Cardinals, So Few Seats?
• Catholic Church sex abuse survivors launch database vetting cardinals’ records
• A False Church With False Doctrines, False Liturgical Rites, and False Cardinals Cannot Give Us True Popes
• Fake conclave, true pope?
• Cardinal Müller says next pope must be ‘strong on doctrine’ and stand up to ‘gay lobby’
• Conclave: Church needs reconciliation, but in Truth
• On the Papal Interregnum
• Conclave has most cardinals, widest geographical mix in history
• The extraordinary scale of the crisis facing the next pope
• The next pope: Lists abound, certainty does not
• Could this be the longest conclave in modern history?
• Conclave 2025: Conciliar clarity at last?
• At the “Media Conclave,” Cardinal Müller Speaks Out
• A new social media generation prepares to elect the pope
• Carlo Maria Vigano on the Church, the Papacy, the Conclave
• Pick A Heretic. Any Heretic. The Coming Conclave
• Conclave Chronicles: Francis died too fast, and the College of Cardinals is adrift
• 2025 conclave to be largest in Catholic Church’s history
• Renewal and Restoration in the Church: An Open Letter to the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
• Cardinal Arborelius expects longer papal conclave
• Young people tell cardinals they want a role in the future Church
• 10 Critical Issues Facing the Next Pope
• Vatican Press Office Signals Bergoglio 2.0
• Cardinal Zen warns conclave of ‘life & death’ issue for Church
• Viganò sues Vatican Bank, implicates Parolin and high-level Freemason
• US conservative Catholics wine and dine cardinals ahead of conclave to elect the pope
• Dr. Josef Seifert calls for investigation of Francis’ ‘heresies’ ahead of conclave
• Social media conservatives attempt to smear a papal contender
• The Unseen Diplomatic Moves in the Vatican
• Vatican guesthouse undergoes transformation ahead of papal election
• Cardinal Kasper says papal conclave may stall if ‘conspiratorial group’ blocks vote
• Dr. Josef Seifert: Papal Heresy Must be Investigated!
• On the eve of the Conclave: A brief history and reflection
• Cardinals witness destruction of Pope Francis’ ring, seal
• Relations with Israel at a historic low as Holy See waits for next Pope
• Lightning over St. Peter’s Basilica on May 5, 2025 (incl. photo)
• Vatican journalist Edward Pentin describes atmosphere in Rome ahead of conclave
• French government denies Italian media rumors of France’s conclave interference
• Conclave in an Era of Cultural Shift
• In Rome’s shadows, smoke and speculation: the conclave’s political ballet begins
• Outside agendas will not dictate the conclave
• Battle for next pope is about whether Rome is still the Church’s power base
• This conclave will be different
• Inside the cardinals’ secret meetings ahead of the conclave
• Will the next pope be good for the Jews?