Categories Selected Articles Black smoke vs. white smoke: What does each mean during the papal conclave? Post author By Post date May 7, 2025 Spread the love At the end of each voting round, black smoke means a new pope has not yet to be selected, while white smoke indicates a new pope has been chosen. Spread the love ← REAL ID Deadline: What Happens if You Try to Fly Without One → Live updates: New pope to be elected by the conclave