When the Catholic Church selects a new pope, the world doesn’t get the news through modern technology—but through rising smoke from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney. Black smoke signals no decision has been made; white means a pope has been chosen. It’s a centuries-old tradition steeped in symbolism and secrecy, yet underpinned by precise engineering.
Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday at age 88, the Church has shifted focus to the upcoming conclave. Cardinals will gather on 7 May for a special Mass before entering the Sistine Chapel to begin the secretive voting process. The ritual includes burning paper ballots in a specially designed stove that produces either black or white smoke, with Vatican engineers and even firefighters involved to ensure clarity and safety.
Experts say the smoke tradition, rooted in 15th-century efforts to ensure transparency, continues despite technological advances because of its deep symbolic power. The use of smoke—linked historically with divine communication—offers a mystical yet inclusive experience for the public, who wait in St. Peter’s Square for that crucial puff of white.
