Papal Conclave of 2025

[Duke of York]

Do we get to see the papal vote totals before the new pope is elected, after the pope is elected, or is there some third option I'm not thinking of?

vote totals don't get released.

[Oryxslayer]

Do we get to see the papal vote totals before the new pope is elected, after the pope is elected, or is there some third option I'm not thinking of?

Third option: theoretically never.

Realistically, they become known when the secret archives are opened and diaries/notes/reports are studied decades later. Which is why historical accounts give approximate counts for older popes. Also, cardinals can leak them to the press in post, but usually the numbers the leakers provide conflict with each other.

[Darthpi - Crush the Oligarchy]

Do we get to see the papal vote totals before the new pope is elected, after the pope is elected, or is there some third option I'm not thinking of?

Leaked to the press like 5 years from now seems to be the standard.

[Tintrlvr]

Do we get to see the papal vote totals before the new pope is elected, after the pope is elected, or is there some third option I'm not thinking of?

Never, though there are usually indicative rumors after the fact. For example, the reports of 2013 say that Scola led the first ballot but only with about 35 votes, the second ballot was close between Scola, Bergoglio and Ouellet, the third ballot was close between Bergoglio and Ouellet, by the fourth ballot Bergoglio was well in the lead but short of a two-thirds majority, and then on the fifth ballot Bergoglio won overwhelmingly ("at least 90 votes").

[Paleobrazilian]

Expect to hear some rumors on vote tallies in a few weeks or months. Those things always end up leaking in one way or another.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Look, realistically you want at least one free dinner and breakfast, right? And this even has a theological logic, given the role of meals within the Christian tradition.

[#UnbanTender]

If I was invited to an event that happens once every... decade or two on average I'd certainly drag it out a little. Especially when there's a good chance I won't be around for next time.

[Tokugawa Sexgod Ieyasu]

It's an unusually large Conclave and most of its members are newbies. This is not surprising.

The conspiracy theories about the delay are going to be awesome to read.

Zombie Giuseppe Siri has been elected Pope!

SARAH THESIS

[Banana Republican]

Francis (Malaysia) immediately followed by Chow (Hong Kong) in the queue was far too targeted at me specifically to not be a divine signal of some kind, if you ask me.

John Boehner is Catholic. And it was, after all, him, that said "the Future is Cao."

At the time, it was assumed that Boehner was referencing the political future. But Boehner never actually specified.

Perhaps it may have been a divine prophecy that Joseph Cao was indeed the future - but the future Pope.

And note that Joseph Cao is also Catholic, and moreover he is described as a former Jesuit scholastic - so Cao has some ecclesiastical chops to be solid Papal material. The Pope doesn't have to be a Cardinal, and has not always been.

Is this the sleeper pick that comes from out of nowhere, stunning the world?

[25 Abril/Aprile Sempre!]

If I was invited to an event that happens once every... decade or two on average I'd certainly drag it out a little. Especially when there's a good chance I won't be around for next time.

You could say it happens once every Pope's death - actually a common Italian idiom equivalent to English "once in a blue moon"!

[インターネット掲示板ユーザー Punxsutawney Phil]

It's an unusually large Conclave and most of its members are newbies. This is not surprising.

The conspiracy theories about the delay are going to be awesome to read.

Zombie Giuseppe Siri has been elected Pope!

SARAH THESIS

Robert Sarah Thought

[Tokugawa Sexgod Ieyasu]

Corriere della Sera sees Grech and Filoni with some momentum as the Conclave starts.

Filoni lmao oh my God. Keep dreaming.

Okay, looking into Filoni a bit more, he's actually a non-insane alternative to Parolin who might be more palatable at this point to the left and/or to the peripheries, in the event that Parolin's supporters die on the hill of wanting a career diplomat. But I think that dynamic is very unlikely to be how this conclave actually concludes.

[Darthpi - Crush the Oligarchy]

Corriere della Sera sees Grech and Filoni with some momentum as the Conclave starts.

Filoni lmao oh my God. Keep dreaming.

Okay, looking into Filoni a bit more, he's actually a non-insane alternative to Parolin who might be more palatable at this point to the left and/or to the peripheries, in the event that Parolin's supporters die on the hill of wanting a career diplomat. But I think that dynamic is very unlikely to be how this conclave actually concludes.

Yeah, he's basically in the "Meh, fine" category. Would not be an inspiring choice at all, and I would agree he doesn't seem likely given the opinions that have been expressed publicly by the various cardinals, but if this were to end up going several days it wouldn't be the weirdest outcome.

Side note: He's also one of the two cardinals who whenever I look at them my brain goes "Wait is that Jeffrey Tambor?"

[CheapDollarEra?]

Theorically, they could elect that priest that criticized Trump's bible. It would be so fun.

[Banana Republican]

https://twitter.com/austeni/status/1920201914488164848

I’m hearing that Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, who was slated to give the cardinals their pep talk after the extra omnes, went on for 50 minutes rather than his allotted 15.

[Darthpi - Crush the Oligarchy]

https://twitter.com/austeni/status/1920201914488164848

I’m hearing that Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, who was slated to give the cardinals their pep talk after the extra omnes, went on for 50 minutes rather than his allotted 15.

I have doubts, but that would be hilarious.

[Banana Republican]

I have doubts, but that would be hilarious.

The person saying it is a Pope Francis biographer, so it is someone who you would think would have some sources.

[Banana Republican]

The Mystery Pope has been smuggled in from Sardinia:

https://twitter.com/MLJHaynes/status/1920232416020476034

At the end of the 1st day of the conclave, a private helicopter has just landed inside Vatican City State, having flown from Sardinia.

Landed at 11:37pm local time.

[Darthpi - Crush the Oligarchy]

The Mystery Pope has been smuggled in from Sardinia:

https://twitter.com/MLJHaynes/status/1920232416020476034

At the end of the 1st day of the conclave, a private helicopter has just landed inside Vatican City State, having flown from Sardinia.

Landed at 11:37pm local time.

Innocent XIV incoming.

[Mike88]

In my country's media, the explanation for the long wait until the smoke was that there are more cardinals, they are old and they take their time to cast a ballot.

[Tintrlvr]

I have doubts, but that would be hilarious.

The person saying it is a Pope Francis biographer, so it is someone who you would think would have some sources.

If true, the Italian cardinals are definitely not helping the case for an Italian pope…

[Tokugawa Sexgod Ieyasu]

I'm sure the helicopter is something boring like extra security or a Sardinian bishop with urgent business for the Vatican's sede vacante skeleton crew, but my first thought was that Becciu is Sardinian and I wouldn't put it past him to change his mind again and beg to be let in after the doors have closed like a teenage girl at a Hole concert in 1998.

[Paleobrazilian]

https://twitter.com/austeni/status/1920201914488164848

I’m hearing that Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, who was slated to give the cardinals their pep talk after the extra omnes, went on for 50 minutes rather than his allotted 15.

I have doubts, but that would be hilarious.

https://twitter.com/joelsh/status/1920016355572486212?t=cFuiMpUCVgxzwmWdEoeQRA&a...

[AustralianSwingVoter]

I'm sure the helicopter is something boring like extra security or a Sardinian bishop with urgent business for the Vatican's sede vacante skeleton crew, but my first thought was that Becciu is Sardinian and I wouldn't put it past him to change his mind again and beg to be let in after the doors have closed like a teenage girl at a Hole concert in 1998.

Sources: Becciu is beside himself. Pacing around St. Peter’s Basilica begging (thru texts) Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations for key to Sistine Chapel

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

Corriere della Sera sees Grech and Filoni with some momentum as the Conclave starts.

Filoni lmao oh my God. Keep dreaming.

Okay, looking into Filoni a bit more, he's actually a non-insane alternative to Parolin who might be more palatable at this point to the left and/or to the peripheries, in the event that Parolin's supporters die on the hill of wanting a career diplomat. But I think that dynamic is very unlikely to be how this conclave actually concludes.

As bad as it sounds, having someone who is likelier to have a shorter term might be appealing to the college.