When will the 2025 conclave bring a new pope? Here's how long it's taken to see white smoke in the past

This week, 133 Catholic cardinal electors will choose a new pope in a secretive, centuries-old ritual called a conclave. On Wednesday, the electors — among the church's most senior officials — will be locked inside the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to hold as many rounds of voting as prove necessary to select the next pontiff. 

Here's what you need to know about the process and how long it might take.