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Something we didn’t see for 2025? Catholicism is going viral. The death of Pope Francis has triggered a 2025 conclave hot on the heels of a well-timed Oscar-winning film. And, the papal election is starting to feel like the newest reality TV show, and TikTok is lighting up with users cutting the traditional rite to episodes of The Real Housewives and RuPaul’s Drag Race as cardinal’s embark on the hunt for Pope Francis’s replacement.
“Conclave 2025 timeline” is one of the top trending terms on Google, and TikTok is full of Catholic-themed memes. Meanwhile, publications like Dazed are reporting that young people are reconnecting with religion, and Italian magazine Rivista Studio is declaring a “Vatican-core summer.”
So, in the interest of service journalism, what’s the conclave 2025 timeline. When will we have our new pope and, most importantly, why do we care?
When Does The New Papal Conclave Start?
The conclave started on May 7, 2025 meaning church leaders are now in the process of electing their new pope. Currently we are in a period referred with the Latin expression “sede vacante” which translates to “the seat is vacant”.
Why Do We Care About The 2025 Conclave Timeline?
As of writing, black smoke has risen above the Vatican, signalling that the conclave of cardinals has yet to agree on a new pope. For those not au fait with the inner workings of the Catholic Church, the whole affair is proving to be delightfully extra—from the ceremonial wardrobes and arcane rules to the centuries-old theatrics. Add in the Church’s longstanding place as a muse for prestige television (The Young Pope, The Borgias), and it’s clear: when it comes to ritualised “extraness”, nothing delivers quite like the election of a new pope.
But beneath the reality TV varnish, the death of Pope Francis seems to have struck a deeper chord. Unlike many of his predecessors, Francis earned the admiration of non-believers with his surprisingly progressive views. He made headlines for his outreach to the LGBTQI+ community, calling laws criminalising homosexuality “unjust,” urging bishops to welcome LGBTQI+ people into the Church, and publicly calling out priests who refused to baptise children of single mothers as “hypocrites.”
It’s worth remembering that many millennials and Gen Zers were raised by Catholic parents or grandparents. Even if they’ve long since stopped attending mass, the shadow of the Church still looms large. From the institutional rejection of single mothers to anti-immigration rhetoric and decades of discrimination against LGBTQI+ people, the Church’s legacy has been complicated at best. The Church is facing a crisis of relevance, particularly among young people, especially young women. A recent study by the Survey Centre for American Life found that Gen Z women are leaving the Church in unprecedented numbers, with 54 per cent walking away from Catholicism.
Pope Francis’s more progressive messaging—however symbolic it may have been— offered a salve.
While many wished Pope Francis had gone further, he was widely regarded as a rare modernising voice in a deeply traditional institution. With several of his potential successors leaning more conservative it’s unsurprising we’re curious as to where the Church turns next.
Related: All The Cardinals Up For The Top Spot In The 2025 Conclave
The 2025 Conclave Timeline
So, where are we in the process of selecting a new pope?
Immediately following the pope’s death, his papal signet ring—otherwise known as a Fisherman’s Ring—and this lead seal were destroyed. This was a practical and symbolic measure, as the items were used to authenticate documents that he created.
Cardinals have gathered and taken their oath of secrecy, while outsiders amass each morning to watch for white smoke from the Sistine Chapel. White smoke indicates that a pope has been selected, while black smoke indicates that the conclave is still in progress.
Pope Francis appointed 80 percent of the cardinals to vote in the conclave and expanded the decision-making to 71 countries. This eliminated Europe’s dominance in the process, and this will be the first time Cardinals from countries like Rwanda, Myanmar, and South Sudan will be casting a vote. (If you want to get to know the cardinals who are top contenders to replace Pope Francis, we have you covered).
How Long Will The Conclave Last?
A two-thirds majority is required for the pope to be elected. The shortest conclave on record was in 1503, when it took only 10 hours to select Pope Pius III. The longest took nearly three years in 1268. Pope Gregory X was finally elected in September 1271.
The last three popes have been elected in two to three days.
Why Does The Papal Conclave Use White Smoke?
In the good old days, black smoke would rise from the Vatican chimney as a result of ballots being burned following a round of unsuccessful voting. In 1914, it was decided white smoke should be used to announce the successful selection of a new pope. According to Scientific American, now a combination of chemicals, including potassium chlorate, lactose and a tree resin called rosin, is used to create the bright white smoke we see above the Vatican.
What Time Will The New Pope Be Announced?
Typically, smoke appears around 10:30 am Vatican time, so:
. NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, ACT at 6:30pm AEST
. South Australia, Northern Territory 6 pm ACST
. Western Australia, 4:30 pm AWST
Where To Watch The Conclave Livestream
Are you hoping to catch the IRL conclave? Sadly, the Vatican is sealed with lock and key, but the Associated Press has a livestream trained on the Sistine Chapel, providing 24-hour coverage.
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