Highlights from Day 1 of the 2025 Conclave: The Sacred Procession, Etra Omens, and Black Smoke
Before the cardinal electors, who will be electing the next Pope, entered the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to commence the 2025 conclave, a Mass for the Election of the Pope was held at St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.
Then came the Sacred Procession to the Sistine Chapel by the 133 cardinal electors, who could be heard magnificently singing the “Litany of the Saints.”
Upon arrival at the Sistine Chapel, a preacher was brought in to remind the cardinals of the gravity of the matter at hand amid prayers.
This was followed by the Oath of Secrecy. Each of the cardinal electors took the Oath of Secrecy to vote according to his conscience and not to disclose details of the conclave.
Then came the proclamation of the Etra Omnes by one of the officials at the conclave.
The proclamation orders all other persons, aside from the cardinal electors, to leave the Sistine Chapel, for the election of the new Pope to commence.
After all the non-cardinal electors had left the chapel, the official who proclaimed the Etra Omnes closed the doors of the chapel.
Hours after the closure of the doors, black smoke emerged from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel. This means that no winner emerged after the first ballots of the cardinal electors.
Watch highlights of Day 1 of the Conclave below:
