Workers have just installed a fresh chimney atop the Sistine Chapel in Rome—a symbol laden with mystery and anticipation. This chimney holds the key to a secret ritual watched by millions around the globe: the election of the next pope.
The moment Pope Francis passed away last month, the Catholic world braced for the gathering of the cardinals. On Wednesday, May 7, 135 cardinal electors under the age of 80 will lock themselves inside the Sistine Chapel for the conclave, a closed-door meeting shrouded in solemn secrecy. Their mission is clear yet profound: to choose the new spiritual leader of more than 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
Once the conclave begins, the chapel doors are sealed tight, and communication with the outside world falls silent. The only clue to the unfolding events is the smoke billowing from the newly installed chimney.
Here’s how it works: after each vote, the cardinals burn their ballots in a special stove. If the smoke that rises is black, it means no decision has been reached and voting will continue. But when white smoke curls into the sky, the world will know—the Church has a new pope.
This smoke is no ordinary plume; it’s engineered with chemicals to produce the precise color needed to send the signal. The tension builds with every waft, as each burst of black smoke prolongs the suspense.
Experts reveal that voting happens first on the evening of the conclave’s opening day. While this initial round often just sets the cardinals’ priorities, the real drama unfolds over the following days with multiple voting rounds—two each morning and two each afternoon.
History shows these conclaves rarely drag on beyond four days. Pope Francis himself emerged as the chosen one by the end of the second day back in 2013.
As black or white smoke rises above the iconic chapel, it tells a story of faith, tradition, and secrecy—a timeless signal watched closely by believers and curious onlookers alike. The world waits, eyes skyward, as the next chapter of the Catholic Church awaits its turn to be written.