The number of votes required to elect a new pope is a two-thirds supermajority of the cardinal electors present. For example, in the recent 2025 conclave with 133 cardinal electors, a candidate needed 89 votes to be elected pope
. The voting process involves secret ballots, with up to four rounds of voting per day until a candidate receives the necessary two-thirds majority. If no candidate achieves this threshold, the ballots are burned producing black smoke to signal no pope has been chosen yet. When a candidate reaches the two- thirds majority and accepts the election, white smoke is produced to announce the new pope
. In summary:
- A two-thirds supermajority vote is required.
- The exact number depends on the total cardinal electors present (e.g., 89 votes out of 133 electors in 2025).
- Voting continues in multiple rounds until the threshold is met and the candidate accepts.
This two-thirds rule has been consistent in recent papal conclaves, including the 2013 and 2025 elections
