Papal Conclave Schedule: College of Cardinals Voting Timetable
Below is the schedule for the College of Cardinals over the next three days. A candidate needs to garner 77 of the 115 voters (two-thirds) to be elected pope. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, who is at the conclave and said he doesn't expect a selection until Thursday evening.
Tuesday
5-6:45 a.m. EDT: Cardinals attend Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, then return to their Vatican hotel.
10:45 a.m. EDT: Cardinals travel from their hotel to the Apostolic Palace.
11:30 a.m. EDT: Procession from the Pauline Chapel into the Sistine Chapel.
11:45 a.m.-3 p.m. EDT: Each cardinal takes an oath, most likely followed by the first vote. If the vote yields a new pope, white smoke will emerge from the chimney; if not, the smoke will be black.
3 p.m. EDT: Cardinals pray in the Sistine Chapel.
3:30 p.m. EDT: Cardinals return to their hotel.
Wednesday and Beyond
2:45 a.m. EDT: Cardinals travel to the Pauline Chapel.
3:15 a.m. EDT: Mass in the Pauline Chapel.
4:30 a.m. EDT: Prayer in the Sistine Chapel, voting starts.
7:30 a.m. EDT: Cardinals retire to their hotel for lunch.
11 a.m. EDT: Cardinals return to the Sistine Chapel.
11:50 a.m. EDT: Voting in the Sistine Chapel.
2:15 p.m. EDT: Prayer in the Sistine Chapel.
2:30 p.m. EDT: Cardinals return to their hotel.
If no pope is elected within the first three days of voting, they will break for a day of reflection and prayer, upon resuming for another three days and then a break, ad nauseam, until a new pope is selected.