Conclave: See the scene as cardinals, faithful flock to Vatican

White smoke rises from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new pope has been elected at the Vatican, May 8, 2025.

Priests wait near St. Peter's Basilica on the second day of the conclave to elect the new pope at the Vatican, on May 8, 2025.

Clouds are seen over the obelisk of St Peter's Square on the second day of the conclave, in the Vatican on May 8, 2025

Nuns gather in St. Peter's Square, on the second day of the conclave to elect the new pope at the Vatican, May 8, 2025.

A man waits at St. Peter's Square on the second day of the conclave to elect the new pope, at the Vatican, May 8, 2025.

Black smoke rises from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel, indicating no decision has been made to elect a new pope at the Vatican, on May 8, 2025.

Faithful wait in St. Peter's Square before black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel meaning a new pope is not yet elected on May 8, 2025 in Vatican City.

A person holds rosary beads in St. Peter's Square before black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel meaning a new pope is not yet elected on May 8, 2025.

People wait at St. Peter's Square on the second day of the conclave to elect the new pope, at the Vatican, May 8, 2025.

A view of St. Peter's Basilica, on the second day of the conclave to elect the new pope, at the Vatican on May 8, 2025.

The chimney of the Sistine Chapel is seen as voting for a new pope continues on May 8, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican.

Black smoke rises from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel, indicating no decision has been made to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025.

Faithful watch a giant screen displaying images of Diego Giovanni Ravelli, Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, closing the doors of the Sistine chapel as the conclave to elect a new Pope starts, at St Peter's Square in The Vatican, on May 7, 2025.

Cardinals attend the Holy Mass, celebrated for the election of the new pope, presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025.

Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88.

Faithful gather on the day the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presides over the Holy Mass, celebrated for the election of the new pope, in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025.

Cardinals attend a mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica in The Vatican, on May 7, 2025.

Cardinale Giovanni Battista Re leads a mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St. Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican.

A Swiss Guard stands, as Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, presides over the Holy Mass, celebrated for the election of the new pope, in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025.

Nuns walk on St. Peter's Square, near front of St Peter's Basilica (seen rear), in The Vatican, on May 7, 2025.

Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presides over the Holy Mass, celebrated for the election of the new pope, in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025.

People attend the Holy Mass, celebrated for the election of the new pope, presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025.

Cardinals attend the Holy Mass, celebrated for the election of the new pope, presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025.

Members of the clergy attend the Holy Mass, celebrated for the election of the new pope, presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025.

Members of media sit at a cafe, as a conclave to elect the new pope begins on Wednesday, in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2025.

People watch from a window on Via della Conciliazione (Road of the Conciliation) near the Vatican, as the Vatican flag flies on the first day of the conclave to elect the next pope, in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2025.

A view shows the central balcony (Loggia delle Benedizioni) of St. Peter's Basilica, as a conclave to elect the next pope takes place at the Vatican, as seen from Rome, Italy, May 7, 2025.

A view shows the chimney on the Sistine Chapel roof, as a conclave to elect the next pope takes place at the Vatican, as seen from Rome, Italy, May 7, 2025.

Media members gather near St. Peter's Basilica, as a conclave to elect the next pope takes place at the Vatican, as seen from Rome, Italy, May 7, 2025.

Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi attends the Holy Mass, celebrated for the election of the new pope, presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025.

A nun eats ice cream, as a conclave to elect the new pope begins on Wednesday, in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2025.

A nun and others gather in St. Peter's Square to watch a broadcast of the Mass for the Election of the New Pope before the start of the conclave on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican.

Roman Catholic cardinals attend a Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on May 7, 2025, before starting the conclave to elect a new pope.

Members of the Catholic women's group, Women's Ordination Conference, hold flares of pink smoke, calling for women's equality in the Catholic church and in protest at the male-only conclave, in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2025.

A priest sits near fire fighters, near the Vatican on the first day of the conclave to elect the next pope, as seen from Rome, Italy, May 7, 2025.

A pilgrim carries a crucifix past a television news platform near the Vatican, on the first day of the conclave to elect the next pope, as seen from Rome, Italy, May 7, 2025.

Nuns walk near the Vatican, on the first day of the conclave to elect the next pope, as seen from Rome, Italy, May 7, 2025.

People gathered on St Peter's Square watch a screen showing Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, on the first day of the conclave to elect the new pope, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025.

A young woman poses with her dog dressed up as a pope in St Peter's Square on the first day of the conclave to elect the next pope, at the Vatican, on May 7, 2025.

Ukraine's Yona Tukuser poses for pictures at St Peter's Square, on the first day of conclave to elect the new pope, at the Vatican, on May 7, 2025.

A cameraman looks on next to statues of the Vatican's colonnade, with a seagull flying past, ahead of the conclave, in the Vatican, on May 7, 2025.

A nun enter St. Peter's Square ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope at the Vatican, on May 7, 2025.