Pink smoke over the Vatican in protest at male-only conclave

Black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday, confirming that Catholic cardinals have failed to elect a new pope in the first round of voting at the papal conclave. The 133 cardinals, meeting behind closed doors, will resume deliberations in the coming days.Following a solemn procession into the Sistine Chapel, each cardinal took a sworn oath of secrecy before the first round of voting began around 5:45 PM local time.
Meanwhile, just hours before the "princes" of the Catholic Church gathered in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope, members of the Women's Ordination Conference lit pink smoke flares on a nearby hill in protest at rampant gender inequality in the Church."While the world may be waiting for white or black smoke, our pink smoke is a signal that women should be included in every aspect of the life of the Church," said Kate McElwee, executive cirector of Women’s Ordination Conference. "A woman’s place is in the conclave," she added. The protesters carried a list of potential female candidates for pope, which included former Irish President Mary McAleese.She added: "We need a man of courage, real courage, who can lead the Church to the egalitarianism, the equality that many of us believe Christ promised and stands for but the Church does not."

Feminist activists release pink smoke in protest over the Vatican’s male-only conclave, demand representation pic.twitter.com/gVxP1fID85

— RT (@RT_com) May 8, 2025

The conclave will resume on Thursday and will continue until a new pope is chosen to succeed Pope Francis, who passed away last month at the age of 88.Thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square waiting for smoke to pour from a narrow flue on the roof of the chapel at the end of a day rich in ritual and pageantry, with prelates praying for divine guidance in their secret ballot.