Who Will Be Pope? Here's Where to Watch the Papal Conclave Without Cable

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It's been a surreal few weeks. On April 21 — Easter Monday, no less — Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 in Vatican City. If you're interested in keeping up with the process and watching the papal conclave, it will begin on May 7 and CBS News will be in Rome covering it. 

CBS News is turning Rome into their newsroom and on Wednesday, May 7 at 10:30 a.m. ET, CBS will air an extended special report as the cardinals process into the Sistine Chapel. Anchors Norah O'Donnell, Tony Dokoupil, Maurice DuBois, Seth Doane and Chris Livesay will be reporting live from Vatican City alongside experts like Father Anthony Figueiredo, Vatican analyst Delia Gallagher, and editor of Crux John Allen. Expect live coverage every time smoke rises, and full live reporting from the moment white smoke appears until the new pope steps onto the balcony.

Who's actually going to become pope? With 135 cardinals eligible to vote, a few frontrunners have emerged — including Pietro Parolin, Luis Antonio Tagle, Péter Erdo, and Matteo Zuppi — but anything can happen once the doors close. Ultimately, the next pope will shape the future of the Church following Francis' legacy of humility, inclusion, and social justice.

Good news: you don't need cable to follow along. If you're subscribed to Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, that includes live CBS access. Plus, platforms such as Hulu + Live TV and Fubo have access to CBS, most with free trials. However this shakes out, it's going to be a fascinating, history-making week.  

While a papal conclave hasn't taken place in over a decade (Francis was elected in 2013), the concept of a conclave has been top of mind for many with the 2024 release of the award-winning Conclave which you can watch on Prime Video.  It's worth a watch.

How to Watch the Papal Conclave on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

As mentioned, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME has CBS access, so you don't have to miss a second of what's going on during the papal conclave. It starts at just $12.99/month with a seven-day free trial to start.

For those of you with Amazon Prime, you already have access to Prime Video. Prime Video offers a Paramount+ with SHOWTIME add-on, which is great for folks that would rather join streaming services within one app to make things easier. This add-on costs the same price as the standalone subscription and also has a seven-day free trial.

How to Watch the Papal Conclave on Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV offers 100+ live channels including CBS, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ starting at $82.99/month. In our opinion, this is one of the best live streaming services due to all the add-ons that are bundled together.

How to Watch the Papal Conclave on DIRECTV STREAM

CBS News is also available through DIRECTV STREAM. While prices tend to vary depending on location, the service generally starts at $84.99/month for 90+ channels and unlimited DVR.

How to Watch the Papal Conclave on Fubo

While Fubo is ideal for sports fans, it's also a great option to consider if you want to watch the news. Fubo has CBS News in its Pro plan. This one begins at $84.99/month but is currently $20 off the first month. It's got over 220 channels, live sports, unlimited DVR, and the ability to watch on up to ten screens.

How to Watch the Papal Conclave from anywhere with a VPN

If CBS News' papal conclave coverage isn't available in your region, don't let digital borders keep you from witnessing history. A trusted VPN can help you stream the events from the Vatican as if you're standing in St. Peter's Square — even if you're continents away. Whether you're traveling, living abroad, or in a country without access to U.S. networks, a VPN ensures you won't miss the smoke, suspense, or sacred tradition.

Top-tier VPNs like ExpressVPN (great for live events), NordVPN (smooth streaming with wallet-friendly plans), and Private Internet Access (easy setup, reliable speeds) make it simple. Just connect to a U.S. server, log in to Paramount+ or a live TV streaming platform, and you're watching the conclave unfold in real time — no borders, no buffering, no missing the moment white smoke fills the sky.

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