Chosen one: a visual guide to Pope Leo XIV, leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics

SCMP | May 14, 2025, 4 a.m. | Original

Papal conclaves, excluding the first day with one ballot, involve two daily balloting sessions - two votes each in the morning and afternoon - until a candidate achieves at least a two-thirds majority. Voting is secret. Modern papal conclaves are typically short. The average length of the last 10 conclaves was 3.2 days and none went on for more than five.

Pope Leo XIV was elected after four rounds of voting across two days.

The 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis lasted two days, as did the 2005 conclave for Pope Benedict XVI, although he needed just four ballots to reach the two-thirds majority, while Francis needed five.

The longest papal election in history was the conclave of 1268-1271. It lasted for two years, nine months and two days before Pope Gregory X was elected. The October 1503 conclave for Pope Julius II was one of the shortest, lasting only hours on the first day.

The basilica, one of the largest churches in the world, is a jewel of Renaissance architecture and contains the tomb of St Peter - the first pope.

Situated inside the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, this 15th-century chapel is world-renowned for its spectacular ceiling frescoes by Michelangelo.

Day two onwards

Two votes are held each morning and two in the afternoon. If no pope is chosen after 34 ballots, the election is limited to the top two candidates, and a simple majority then decides the new pope.

Reaching a decision

A two-thirds majority plus one elects the pope. Inconclusive votes are signaled by black smoke; white smoke and bells announce a successful election.

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