Here's how the conclave creates black and white smoke and why the Catholic Church began using them to signal whether a new pope has been elected.

A new Pope is set to be elected in the coming days following the passing of Pope Francis. The conclave — which was excellently depicted in the 2024 film named after the process — will see the 135 ...

VATICAN CITY -- The temporary chimney atop the Sistine Chapel released a plume of white smoke on Thursday evening local time, signaling that the 133 cardinals working inside had reached a two-thirds ...

White smoke billowed from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel May 8, 2025, signaling that a new pope had been ...

Black smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney Wednesday evening, indicating that no pope was elected on the conclave’s ...

Patricia Sota, Maria Lafarga, Martha Torres, and Gladys Heraldez in Lake Como during their May 2025 trip through Italy that coincided with the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV. (Maria Lafarga) As ...

Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news for the first day of the conclave on Wednesday, May 7. For the latest news and updates from the papal conclave, read USA TODAY's live updates for Thursday ...