A seagull sits near the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the conclave to elect a new Pope. Photo: Screenshot
As the world watched, waiting for smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, it was a seagull that was stealing the show.
Thousands gathered in St Peter's Square as the conclave to elect a new pope began.
The only signal from the cardinals during the conclave comes in the form of smoke from a chimney atop the chapel, as the clerics burn their ballots.
Black smoke on Thursday (NZT) marked a first inconclusive vote; white smoke and the pealing of bells will signal that the 1.4-billion-member Church has a new leader.
A seagull is seen sitting on a Sistine Chapel chimney on the first day of the conclave. Photo: AFP / Beata Zawrzel
Within the first few hours, before the first black smoke billowed from the stack, a seagull caught the attention of those watching livestreams of the chimney.
At one point it was joined by another with a chick.
#Saint #Benedict had his ravens, the Papal #Conclave has a #seagull. This patient #pilgrim has been keeping watch (occasionally with a friend) throughout the evening. We keep watch with him and continue to #pray for the Conclave as we await the results of the first vote. pic.twitter.com/YUH1Zh0omR
— Benedictine Sisters (@SHMBenedictines) May 7, 2025
Waiting for hours before sign of the first smoke, people on social media seemed entertained by the guest appearance.
"Shoutout to that one seagull locked in on the conclave proceedings," one user on X wrote.
A seagull flies overhead as attendees wait for the start af the conclave, near St Peter's Square, in front of St Peter's Basilica, in The Vatican. Photo: AFP / Jeff Pachoud
While a bird is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit, it's a dove, not a seagull.
It seems this isn't the first time a seagull made an appearance on the smoke stack as the world awaited word of a new Pope, with a seagull gaining international attention as it sat on the chimney during the 2013 conclave.
- RNZ / Reuters
