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Where to watch the 2025 conclave: TV channels, streaming info, more


Paste BN will stream coverage of the papal conclave on its YouTube channel.

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More than 100 Catholic cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, May 7 to begin the process of electing the new pope.

Known as a papal conclave, this election is conducted by the College of Cardinals − bishops and Vatican officials who were selected by the late Pope Francis. The cardinals are tasked with voting for one of their colleagues to take over the role of pontiff.

There is no set timeline for how long a conclave can take. Pope Francis was elected just one day after the conclave that elected him began in 2013. But on the flip side, the longest conclave in history took nearly three years with the election of Pope Gregory X in 1271.

Here's how to watch the conclave in the U.S., including major television network and streaming plans.

Paste BN livestream

Paste BN will stream coverage of the conclave on its YouTube channel, available here or at the embed below. The first day's livestream is scheduled to run from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 7.

CBS News

CBS will offer an extended special report at 10:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 7. Anchored by Norah O'Donnell and Tony Dokoupil, the hosts will speak on the cardinals' process into the Sistine Chapel. Coverage will also include Maurice DuBois, Seth Doane and Chris Livesay reporting live from Rome, according to a news release.

CBS will also offer ongoing special reports each time smoke emerges from the Sistine Chapel chimney and live coverage the moment white smoke emerges from the chimney and a new pope is introduced to the world, a news release states.

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

ABC News

ABC News will offer comprehensive coverage of the conclave across ABC News on cable television; ABC News Live, the service's 24/7 news stream; and streaming services Disney+ and Hulu, an ABC spokesperson told Paste BN.

Fox News

Fox News will present daily live coverage of the papal conclave, starting with a special, early edition of Fox & Friends First at 4 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 7, a news release states.

Fox News Chief Religion Correspondent Lauren Green, Correspondent Alex Hogan, contributor Jonathan Morris and Fox News Radio reporter Jonathan Savage will be reporting live from St. Peter's Square throughout the conclave.

Vatican News on YouTube

Vatican News, the official news agency of Vatican City, is managing a livestream of St. Peter's Square on its YouTube channel. To watch, visit youtube.com/watch?v=J6MqpK91bEA.

Radio Vaticana, the official radio station of Vatican City, will also be providing live updates of the conclave.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to add a new link.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at Paste BN. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.