How to Watch the 2025 Papal Conclave Live Online and on TV

To start the process of choosing the next pope, more than 100 Catholic cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday.

The College of Cardinals, which consists of bishops and Vatican officials chosen by the late Pope Francis, conducts this election, which is also known as a papal conclave. It is the cardinals’ responsibility to elect one of their colleagues to succeed the pontiff.

The duration of a conclave is not predetermined. The conclave that chose Pope Francis started in 2013, and he was elected barely one day later. On the other hand, the election of Pope Gregory X in 1271 resulted in the longest conclave in history, lasting almost three years.

Here’s how to watch the conclave in the United States, including streaming services and major TV networks.

USA TODAY streaming

The conclave will be covered live by USA TODAY on its YouTube channel, which you may access by clicking here or using the embed below. On Wednesday, May 7, the webcast for the first day is planned to run from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. ET.

CBS News

On Wednesday, May 7, CBS will broadcast a lengthy special report at 10:30 a.m. ET. The hosts, Tony Dokoupil and Norah O’Donnell, will discuss the cardinals’ procession into the Sistine Chapel. According to a news release, Maurice DuBois, Seth Doane, and Chris Livesay will also be providing live coverage from Rome.

According to a news release, CBS will also provide live coverage the instant white smoke erupts from the chimney and a new pope is unveiled to the world, as well as continued special broadcasts every time smoke emerges from the Sistine Chapel chimney.

CBS News is available on cable television, on the CBS website and Paramount+.

ABC News

According to an ABC spokeswoman who spoke to USA TODAY, ABC News will provide extensive coverage of the conclave on cable television, ABC News Live, the network’s round-the-clock news feed, and streaming services Disney+ and Hulu.

Fox News

According to a news release, Fox News will broadcast live coverage of the papal conclave every day, beginning on Wednesday, May 7, at 4 a.m. ET with a special early edition of Fox & Friends First.

Throughout the conclave, Fox News Radio reporter Jonathan Savage, correspondent Alex Hogan, contributor Jonathan Morris, and Fox News Chief Religion Correspondent Lauren Green will all be providing live coverage from St. Peter’s Square.