We have white smoke! The most-watched chimney in the world right now is the one attached to the Sistine Chapel, which signaled around noon E.T. on May 8 that a new pope has been chosen.

The answer: black smoke means they've voted, but no pope has been chosen. White smoke means a new pope has indeed been voted in. So that's why you're seeing livestreams of the Sistine Chapel chimney.

White smoke has risen out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, signifying that a new pope has been elected. All eyes were on the smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel on May 8 as 133 cardinals voted ...

Black smoke has billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney after the first round of voting by the College of Cardinals, indicating a new pope has yet to be elected.

Black smoke billows from the chimney at 11:53 a.m. local time over St. Peter’s Square on May 8, 2025. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, May 8, 2025 / 10:20 am ...

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 7 - Black smoke was emitted from the Sistine Chapel chimney Wednesday meaning the cardinals in the papal conclave had elected no successor to Pope Francis in their first vote.

Black smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, on March 13, 2013. CREDIT: Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images. picture alliance What makes smoke white?

Black smoke (fumata nera) means the cardinals have not reached the two-thirds majority required, 77 votes, to elect a new pope. White smoke (fumata bianca) signals success.

Crowds of Catholics and tourists gathered in St Peter's Square in the Vatican are training their eyes on the Sistine Chapel to watch for white or black smoke as cardinals tasked with electing a ...