The EXTRA OMNES order has just been given. It's Conclave time!

Waiting for smoke

We in the NPR booth are calling the Sistine chimney bird Robert Seagull.

It's been 2 hours now since the "extra omnes" door close.

Black smoke tonight! No new pope. But we can now tell you, because we frantically researched it, that the shortest-ever conclave was in 1503.

Can the new pope inspire young Catholics? Zac Davis and I discuss with NPR’s Scott Detrow! Listen here: one.npr.org/?sharedMediaId…

Pope? NOPE! Black smoke.

We are now 3 ballots in, with no 2/3 consensus. Remember, Benedict was elected on the fourth ballot in 2005, and Francis was elected on the fifth ballot in 2013. Though: most experts think there's a very good chance this one goes longer.

This water fountain is my favorite thing in the square.

There is white smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel, and we are getting ready to bring you this moment. Tune into your local NPR station right now!

The pope is from Chicago .... and we here in St. Peter's Square are turning our attention now to telling you everything we know about this moment, what it means, and who he is. Tune in in a few hours!

Many thoughts, many feelings. But I have to say: watching NPR 🐐Sylvia Poggioli translate Italian on air, in real time, with no advance notice, is something I will never forget.

Still at a loss to describe what it was like to get to be part of NPR's coverage of this moment from my office 5,000 miles away from St. Peter's Square — and to hear Scott Detrow announce "THE POPE. IS FROM. CHICAGO."

Pope Leo specifically points to artificial intelligence here.

Pope Leo tells cardinals of his desire to continue to legacy of the Second Vatican Council and Pope Francis, especially in caring for the "least" of our brothers and sisters americamagazine.org/faith/2025/05/…

Asking the important questions.

The Sox fans are making their way to St. Peter's Square.

Full video of my interview with Jake Tapper 🦅 and Alex Thompson about their new book, “Original Sin” youtube.com/watch?v=G1kXJC…

This is a #mustlisten for NPR fans: ⁦Ari Shapiro⁩ interviewing ⁦Scott Detrow⁩ about what it is like to anchor NPR live special coverage & letting your humanity show through. one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-541575…

Talked to Ron Johnson yesterday about the bill... Elon Musk... and his Monday phone call with President Trump