When Next Pope Will Be Chosen AI Prediction: When Does Conclave Start & How Long Will it Last?

The conclave will begin the process of electing the next pope on Wednesday, and AI predicts a quick decision for when Pope Francis' successor will be announced in Vatican City.
When Will the New Pope Be Announced? AI Predicts Decision This Week
Pictured: A view of the chimney preparation in the conclave on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. Photo by Vatican media / SOPA Images/Sipa USA.

The process of electing the new pope and successor to Pope Francis begins Wednesday when the conclave meets in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. AI is predicting a quick decision via the cardinals' vote, as we look for an answer to this question: When will the new pope be announced?

Our breakdown of the new pope betting odds features all the latest information on the search for the 267th pontiff.

⏰ When will the new pope be announced?

If you're in the U.S., you can make predictions on the next pope via Kalshi. Join now and get a $10 bonus. 18+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

  • Before May 9: 56% chance
  • Before May 16: 91% chance
  • Before June 1: 97% chance

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🤖 AI prediction for when the new pope will be announced

I asked ChatGPT, a large language model chatbot from OpenAI, for its best prediction on when the new pope will be announced. Please note that ChatGPT is not a bettor and isn't recommended for betting advice, but it can help provide additional information and insights, contributing to informed decisions.

ChatGPT expects a fast decision from the cardinals.

🔮 Prediction: The new pope will be announced between May 8–10

  • Conclave start date: May 7, 2025, as the Vatican officially announced
  • Typical duration: Modern conclaves last 2–4 days
    • Pope Francis (2013): elected on the second day (fifth ballot)
    • Pope Benedict XVI (2005): elected on the second day (fourth ballot)
  • Cardinal commentary: Several insiders have hinted this conclave could be “short,” with a front-runner or consensus figure likely to emerge quickly

🗓️ Likeliest timeline:

  • May 7: Opening ceremonies and first ballot (possibly inconclusive)
  • May 8–9: Multiple ballots per day
  • May 8–10: White smoke and “Habemus Papam” announcement from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica

💨 Will white smoke appear from the chimney on May 7?

The white smoke signals to the world that a new pope has been successfully elected.

🔥 Here’s how it works:

  • During a papal conclave, ballots are burned after each vote
  • If no pope is elected, black smoke appears (from a mixture of ballot papers and chemicals)
  • Once a pope is chosen and accepts the position, white smoke is produced by burning the ballots with a different chemical mix
  • This white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney announces “Habemus Papam” - “We have a pope!”

Sports Interaction, one of our best Ontario sports betting sites for how to bet on the next pope, provides odds for whether a new pope will be elected on Wednesday.

  • Yes: +900 (10% implied probability)
  • No: -5000 (98.04% implied probability)

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