An estimated 45,000 people gathered in St Peter's Square to await the results of the first conclave vote, which had been expected some time after 7 p.m. but ended up coming in around 9 p.m ...

Cardinals attend a final Mass celebrated by cardinals inside St. Peter's Basilica, before the conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

A new pope could be elected as soon as the first ballot on Wednesday, or the process could continue for days. Since 1831, no conclave has lasted more than four days. Up to four rounds of voting ...

Voting for a new pope is no joke. Before Pope Leo XIV (formerly Robert Francis Prevost) was named the successor of the late Pope Francis at the latest conclave, he—along with more than one ...

People gather in front of St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica, on the second day of the conclave to elect the new pope, as seen from Rome, Italy May 8, 2025. Alkis Konstantinidis / REUTERS ...

After four rounds of voting, the conclave decided who will be the next to lead the 1.4 billion-member church.

VATICAN CITY—The conclave to elect a new pope is approaching potentially decisive rounds of voting on Thursday afternoon, after cardinals failed to reach the necessary majority in the morning.

The quickest conclave observing the 10-day wait rule appears to have been the 1503 election of Pope Julius II, who was elected in just a few hours, according to Vatican historian Ambrogio Piazzoni.

Explore historical trivia behind the longest conclave and the shortest, the oldest pope and the youngest and a handful of antipopes as well.

The quickest conclave observing the 10-day wait rule appears to have been the 1503 election of Pope Julius II, who was elected in just a few hours, according to Vatican historian Ambrogio Piazzoni.