What Time Does Conclave Start? When Will We Likely See Black Or White Smoke

Two weeks after Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, the sacred practice of naming the next pontiff has officially begun. What time could we see black or white smoke billow out of the Sistine Chapel? Here’s what to know about Day 1 of the Conclave and how to watch.

The highly secretive selection process to replace Pope Francis is called Conclave, which translates to “with a key” in latin. As seen in the dramatized 2024 Oscar-winning film Conclave, cardinals are completely sequestered from the outside world.

To signal whether a new pope has been selected, chemicals are burned with the ballots after each round of voting, turning the smoke either black or white. Black smoke means that no candidate has received two-thirds majority votes, and voting will continue. White smoke indicates that a candidate has secured enough votes and will soon be introduced to the world as the new pontiff.

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On the first day of the Conclave, the 133 electors participating can hold one round of voting in the afternoon, which consists of two ballots. From the second day onward, there will be two rounds of voting each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, according to CBS News.

While it’s unknown how long this Conclave will last, the shortest on record took just 10 hours in 1503, while the longest – to choose the successor for Pope Clement IV in 1268 – was three years. More recently, the last three popes have been elected in two or three days.

Here’s everything you need to know about streaming the 2025 Conclave, including when to watch the smoke to learn if a pontiff was chosen today.

What Time Does The 2025 Conclave Start?

The 2025 Conclave officially begins on Wednesday, May 7 at 4 a.m. ET (10 a.m. local time in Rome) with a mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica.

Check out the Conclave schedule for May 7, according to The Vatican.

• 4 a.m. ET (10 a.m. local in Rome): Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City
• 9:45 a.m. ET (3:45 p.m. local): The cardinals leave Casa Santa Maria on foot or by bus
• 10:15 a.m. ET (4:15 p.m. local): Cardinals gather in the Pauline Chapel
• 10:30 a.m. ET (4:30 p.m. local): Cardinals walk in procession into the Sistine Chapel
• 1 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local): Smoke watch begins

What Time Could We See Black Or White Smoke For The 2025 Conclave?

While the Vatican doesn’t release exact timing for the smoke signals during a conclave, we can estimate when they can occur based on past elections.

On Day 1, white or black smoke could appear around 1 and 2 p.m. ET (7 p.m. to 8 p.m. local) and later.

If a pope is not elected on Wednesday, starting Thursday, there will be four ballots each day, with potential smoke watches in the mid-morning, noon, mid-afternoon and evening. Smoke signals could happen around 4:30 a.m., 6 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and after 1 p.m. ET, according to America Magazine.

How To Watch And Stream The 2025 Conclave Live

Several media outlets will livestream coverage of the Conclave, including on Day 1. Here are a few free options to tune in and watch the smoke results.