When the black smoke billowed out of the Sistine Chapel chimney for the second time on March 13, 2013, the crowds in St. Peter’s Square felt a familiar sense of "here we go again." People were huddled under umbrellas in the rain, staring at a small copper pipe, waiting for a signal that would change history. You’d think picking the leader of 1.2 billion people would be a grueling, weeks-long marathon, right? Actually, it was remarkably fast.
If you’re wondering how long did it take to choose Pope Francis, the short answer is roughly 25 and a half hours.
The 115 cardinal electors spent just two days behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel. They walked in on Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday evening, we had a new Pope. It was one of the quickest elections in modern history, catching many Vatican watchers totally off guard. They expected a deadlock. Instead, they got Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
The Clock Starts: Tuesday, March 12
The process didn't just start with a vote. It started with a lot of chanting. On Tuesday morning, the cardinals attended the Missas Pro Eligendo Pontifice (Mass for the Election of a Pope). Then, around 4:30 PM, they processed into the Sistine Chapel.
It's a heavy vibe. They swear an oath of secrecy—basically promising that if they leak anything, they’re looking at immediate excommunication. No iPhones. No Twitter. No "hey mom, I'm voting."
That first evening, they held exactly one ballot.
- The Result: Black smoke.
- The Meaning: No one hit the two-thirds majority (77 votes).
Honestly, nobody expected a winner on day one. It’s mostly a "temperature check" to see who has the early momentum. On that first ballot, Cardinal Angelo Scola of Italy was actually the frontrunner with about 30 votes, while Bergoglio was trailing slightly behind with 26.
Wednesday, March 13: The Momentum Shifts
The second day is where things got intense. They do four ballots a day—two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
By the morning rounds (ballots two and three), the momentum started shifting toward the Argentine. Reports from insiders (who eventually talked years later, despite the oaths) suggest that Scola’s support stalled. People started looking for a "pastoral" candidate who wasn't part of the Roman Curia's internal politics. Bergoglio fit the bill.
At lunch on Wednesday, the energy in the Casa Santa Marta (where the cardinals sleep) was reportedly electric. By the fifth ballot in the late afternoon, Bergoglio crossed the 77-vote threshold. He actually ended up with somewhere around 85 votes.
Why Was It So Fast?
You might wonder why it only took five ballots. In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI was chosen in just four ballots. Before that, John Paul II took eight. The reason how long did it take to choose Pope Francis ended up being so short is mainly due to a "pre-conclave" consensus.
Before the doors even locked, the cardinals had "General Congregations." Think of these as the ultimate corporate mixers, but with more robes and less small talk. During these meetings, Cardinal Bergoglio gave a short, powerful speech about how the Church needed to go to the "peripheries." It blew people away. By the time they walked into the chapel, he was already the guy to beat.
The Timeline At A Glance
If you want to track the minutes, here is how the 2013 conclave broke down:
- Total Duration: 2 days.
- Total Ballots: 5 rounds of voting.
- Start Time: March 12, approx. 4:45 PM (first procession).
- End Time: March 13, 7:06 PM (white smoke appeared).
- First Appearance: 8:12 PM (Habemus Papam announcement).
It’s pretty wild to think that in the time it takes to watch a few movies and get a good night's sleep, the Catholic Church had completely rebranded.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of folks think the "smoke" happens the second the vote is finished. It doesn't. They have to burn the ballots with special chemicals to get the color right. In 2013, the white smoke was actually a bit grey at first, which caused a few minutes of total confusion in the square. People weren't sure if they should cheer or keep waiting.
Also, many assume there’s a lot of debating inside the chapel. There isn't. The Sistine Chapel is for voting in silence. The "convincing" happens during those lunch breaks and walks between buildings. By the time they are sitting under Michelangelo’s "Last Judgment," the deal is usually almost done.
The Human Element: "Don't Forget the Poor"
There’s a famous story from those final moments. As the votes for Bergoglio passed the 77 mark, his friend Cardinal Claudio Hummes leaned over, hugged him, and whispered, "Don't forget the poor." That was the moment Bergoglio decided on the name Francis. It wasn't a calculated PR move; it was a split-second decision in a room full of old men realized they’d just made history.
What This Means for the Future
Papal elections have been getting shorter. Modern travel and communication mean cardinals know each other way better than they did in the 1800s, when a conclave could last weeks because people were still literally traveling by horse to get to Rome.
If you're following Church news today, keep in mind that the "two-day" mark is the new standard. Anything longer than three days usually signals a massive internal divide.
Next Steps for History Buffs
If you're fascinated by the Vatican's secret processes, you can actually look up the "Universi Dominici Gregis." It's the official apostolic constitution that outlines exactly how these elections must run. It's surprisingly technical—it even covers what happens if a cardinal needs to go to the hospital mid-vote. You might also want to check out the logs of the 1978 "Year of Three Popes" to see what happens when a conclave has to happen twice in one year. It's a rabbit hole, but a fascinating one.