You’re standing in a rain-slicked St. Peter’s Square, eyes glued to a tiny, unremarkable copper chimney. Thousands of people are holding their breath around you. It’s quiet—eerily so for a crowd that size. Then, a thin wisp of smoke starts to curl out.
Is it grey? Is it black? Honestly, for the first few seconds, everyone argues about it. But then it thickens. It turns a brilliant, unmistakable white. The crowd erupts. This is the moment the world has been waiting for, the literal "Habemus Papam" signal.
But if you're watching from home or checking your phone, you probably want to know the exact timing. When do they announce the new pope once that smoke appears? It’s not instant. There’s a very specific, almost theatrical lag between the smoke and the man actually stepping onto the balcony.
The Smoke Schedule: When to Watch the Chimney
The Vatican doesn't just vote whenever they feel like it. The conclave follows a rigid, centuries-old rhythm. Generally, the 130-ish cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel and lock the doors—"cum clave," or "with a key."
Starting the second day, they usually hold four votes: two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
If you are looking for the smoke, here is the basic "window" for when it typically shows up:
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- Morning Sessions: If the first vote fails, they immediately go to a second. You’ll see smoke (usually black) around 12:00 PM Rome time. If they actually elect someone on that first morning ballot, white smoke could surprise everyone as early as 10:30 AM.
- Afternoon Sessions: Same deal. A failed double-vote results in black smoke around 7:00 PM. But if they nail it on the first try of the afternoon, the white smoke billows at roughly 5:30 PM.
The "Room of Tears" Delay
Once the white smoke goes up, don't expect the balcony doors to fly open two minutes later. There’s a frantic, emotional process happening inside.
First, the Dean of the College of Cardinals walks up to the winner and asks the big question in Latin: "Acceptasne electionem canonicam tui in Summum Pontificem?" Basically, "Do you accept?"
If he says "Accepto," he's officially the Pope. Right then. No inauguration needed.
Then comes the "Room of Tears" (Stanza delle Lacrime). It’s a tiny room off to the side of the Sistine Chapel. The new Pope goes in there alone to put on the white cassock for the first time. It's called the Room of Tears because, historically, this is where the sheer weight of the job hits the guy and he breaks down.
While he’s dressing, the Vatican tailors (Gammarelli) have three different sizes of white robes ready—small, medium, and large—because they have no idea who is going to win. Sometimes the fit is... well, it's a bit "kinda" baggy, but they make it work.
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The Big Reveal: Habemus Papam
About 30 to 60 minutes after the white smoke first appears, the lights behind the red curtains of the central balcony (the Loggia of the Blessings) turn on.
The Senior Cardinal Deacon steps out. In 2025, for the election of Pope Leo XIV (Robert Prevost), it was Cardinal Dominique Mamberti who did the honors. He delivers the famous Latin formula:
"Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!"
(I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope!)
He then announces the birth name of the cardinal and, finally, the name the man has chosen for his papacy. That’s the moment the world finally knows who is leading the 1.3 billion Catholics on Earth.
Why the Timing Sometimes Gets Messy
Historically, conclaves took forever. We’re talking years. In the 13th century, the locals got so fed up with the cardinals dragging their feet that they literally ripped the roof off the building to "encourage" a faster decision.
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Modern conclaves are much faster. Most wrap up in two to five days.
- Pope Francis (2013): Elected on the 5th ballot (Day 2).
- Pope Benedict XVI (2005): Elected on the 4th ballot (Day 2).
- Pope Leo XIV (2025): Elected on the second day as well.
If a conclave goes past the third or fourth day, it usually means there’s a "deadlock" between two major factions—sorta like a political convention that won't budge. After 34 failed votes, the rules actually allow for a runoff between the top two candidates, though they still need a two-thirds majority to win.
Actionable Tips for Following the Announcement
If you're trying to catch the next announcement live, don't just wait for the news alerts—they’re usually a few minutes behind the actual visual.
- Watch the Bells: Since 2005, the Vatican started ringing the massive bells of St. Peter’s simultaneously with the white smoke. This was to prevent the "is it grey or white?" confusion that happened in previous years. If the bells are tolling and the smoke is rising, it's 100% a new Pope.
- Trust the Livestreams: The Vatican News YouTube channel runs a 24/7 feed of the chimney during the conclave. It's the most reliable way to see the "fumata bianca" in real-time.
- Check Rome Time: Remember that the Vatican operates on Central European Time (CET). If you're in New York, the noon smoke happens at 6:00 AM for you.
Basically, the announcement is a two-stage rocket: the smoke tells you that it happened, and the balcony speech tells you who it is. Give it about an hour between the two, and you won't miss a thing.