Conclave smoke: What black and white smoke signal during election of a new pope
In the past, a papal conclave has been held 15-20 days after a vacancy.
With Pope Francis' passing, crowds will soon gather in Vatican City to honor and celebrate the traditions of selecting his successor. And once the election process for a new pope begins, gatherers will turn upward each day, waiting for black or white smoke to fill the sky.
Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21. He was 88 years old.
Following Francis' funeral, the Catholic Church's most senior officials will meet to discuss his successor. While these meetings are held in secrecy, the rest of the world is notified of the group's daily decisions by white or black-colored smoke funneled from the top of the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke indicates a non-conclusive answer, and white smoke indicates that a new pope has been selected. This process is part of a papal conclave.
Here's what to know about the tradition of black and white smoke in conjunction with the selection of a new pope.
What is a papal conclave?
A papal conclave is an election to choose a new pope, held by the College of Cardinals − bishops and Vatican officials chosen by the pope. As of April 21, the College of Cardinals is made up of 252 individuals, including 136 who can vote in a conclave, according to The Holy See's College of Cardinals Dashboard.
During a conclave, the College of Cardinals discuss the needs and challenges facing the Catholic Church. They then gather in St. Peter's Basilica to invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit on who should be the successor, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Before the election begins, the cardinal electors enter the Sistine Chapel, take an oath of secrecy and seal the church's doors. As for the election, each cardinal votes by secret ballot. He says a prayer and then drops his twice-folded ballot in a large chalice, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Four rounds of voting are conducted each day until one candidate receives two-thirds of the vote.
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What does the black and white smoke mean?
The black and white smoke that bellows from the Sistine Chapel during a conclave represents the cardinals' decision for the day.
If one candidate didn't receive the necessary two-thirds vote for the day, the ballots are burned in a stove with a mixture of chemicals to produce black smoke. The black smoke indicates another day of voting is ahead.
If a candidate is selected, the final round of ballots are burned with chemicals to produce white smoke.
What chemicals are mixed with the ballots to produce black and white smoke?
During the 2013 conclave that led to the election of Pope Francis, the black smoke was produced using a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene (a component of coal tar) and sulfur. The conclave used a combination of potassium chlorate, lactose, and chloroform resin to create the white smoke.
Where does the smoke come from?
The black and white smoke comes from a cast-iron stove inside the Sistine Chapel. One of the stoves is used to burn the cardinals' ballots and the other is to send puffs of black or white smoke up above.
What happens once a candidate is selected?
Once a candidate has received two-thirds of the cardinals' votes, the senior cardinal deacon announces him from the balcony of St. Peter's balcony before the new pope steps out to face a welcoming crowd.
When is a conclave held?
In the past, a conclave has been held 15-20 days after a papal vacancy, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
When was the first conclave held?
The first papal was held in 1492, according to the Sistine Chapel website.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at Paste BN. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.