Stoves have been installed in the Sistine Chapel to generate smoke, signaling the progress of the conclave tasked with electing a new pope. This event follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88, with the conclave set to begin on May 7. A new chimney has been affixed to the chapel’s roof to communicate the status of the voting to the public.
During the conclave, cardinals will cast secret ballots to elect a new pope. If a candidate does not secure the required two-thirds majority, black smoke will be emitted, indicating that no pope has been chosen. Conversely, the appearance of white smoke will signify the successful election of a new pope. The voting process allows for four votes each day, and smoke signaling will occur at approximately noon and 7 p.m. local time.
The smoke’s creation involves burning the ballots of inconclusive votes in one of the stoves. The mixture for the smoke has evolved over time; during the 2013 conclave, black smoke was produced using potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur, while white smoke was created with potassium chlorate, lactose, and chloroform resin. This system was developed after various mishaps in earlier conclaves, including the failed method of adding damp straw, which resulted in false alarms.
The tradition of using smoke signals to indicate the outcome of papal elections is relatively modern, originating in the early 20th century. Overall, the preparations within the Sistine Chapel underscore the significance and ceremonial nature of this critical event in the Catholic Church.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
