Cardinals begin conclave to elect new pope amid public anticipation

As the world watches in anticipation, 133 cardinals convened in the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday, initiating a conclave to elect a new pope. The first round yielded black smoke, signaling that the quest for a new leader of the Catholic Church remains ongoing.

Wednesday, May 7th 2025, 4:30 pm

By: Jonathan Cooper

The College of Cardinals has begun the process of electing a new pope, convening Tuesday in the Sistine Chapel after taking their oaths of secrecy.

A total of 133 cardinals are participating in the conclave and will remain sequestered until they reach a two-thirds majority vote required to elect a new pontiff. Following the first round of voting, black smoke billowed from the chapel’s chimney, a traditional signal that no candidate had yet secured the necessary support.

CBS News correspondent Bradley Blackburn reported from Vatican City, where an estimated 45,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, awaiting updates on the papal selection process.

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Jonathan Cooper

Jonathan Cooper started at News On 6 in 2018 as the weekend evening anchor and moved to News On 6 at Noon in 2019. Now you can find Jonathan anchoring News On 6 at 4pm and News On 6 at 9pm on the Tulsa CW.