First papal conclave smoke expected 7 p.m. – Vatican

FILE: View of the Sistine Chapel from the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica (2005, Maus-Trauden). (Photo By Maus-Trauden/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

By ANSA, Philippine News Agency

VATICAN CITY – The first smoke signal from the papal conclave is expected to rise from the Sistine Chapel “not before 7:00 p.m.” on Wednesday (around 1 a.m. in Manila), according to Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni.

He said the cardinal electors will enter the chapel at around 4:30 pm, then there will be a catechesis by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa and the swearing of the oath of office followed by the first vote on who should succeed Pope Francis.

Beginning Thursday, the cardinals will hold up to four votes per day — two in the morning and two in the afternoon — with smoke signals expected twice daily to inform the public of the outcome.

If no pope is elected in the morning session, black smoke is likely to appear around noon.

However, should the first vote of the day be successful, white smoke — indicating a new pope — could be seen as early as 10:30 a.

m.

The same applies in the afternoon: absent a conclusive vote, smoke would emerge around 7 p.m., but if the first ballot results in a decision, white smoke might be visible by around 5:30 p.m.