Smoke Signals and Uncrowned Popes: The Vatican's Long, Smoky Wait
Smoke once more enveloping Vatican city - vacuum for new pontiff remains
The Holy See is still in limbo as the second day of the conclave ends without a new pope. After a fruitless first ballot, the skies above the Vatican once again filled with black smoke, indicating that the ranks of cardinals voting for the 267th pope couldn't find a suitable successor to Pope Francis yet. With the third ballot set for this very afternoon, let's dig into the historical background of these intriguing smoke signals and the unpredictable politics within the Vatican walls.
A Smoky Dance in the Sistine Chapel
An afternoon of hopeful anticipation turned sour as the second day of the papal election came to a close. As 5 p.m. approached, black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, a potent symbol that the cardinals' votes were inconclusive. With 133 eligible cardinals from across the globe cast in the lot, the consensus eluded them. The smoky spectacle was par for the course, given that recent conclaves have invariably lasted two or three days[1]. However, history has shown that these vote-offs could drag on for much longer[2].
A wave of disappointment swept across St. Peter's Square as more than 40,000 spectators were left waiting into the evening for the white smoke that would signal the election of a new Pope. The color of the smoke is no mere coincidence; technicians within the chimney thermally decompose chemicals in the burnt ballots to determine the outcome. If the new pontiff has been chosen, a slew of chemicals such as potassium nitrate, lactose, and magnesium ribbon is added to the fire, producing a plume of white smoke[3].
The Elegant Dance of Cardinal basso
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, at 91-years-old, wore the mantle of the influential Dean of the College of Cardinals during Wednesday's opening mass. His role as the head of the conclave keyed his hopes for the successful election of a new pope by evening. In recent decades, conclaves have usually come to a close within a few days[1]. As the cardinal may not participate in the conclave due to his age, only cardinals under 80-years-old are eligible to vote[4].
A Practice Shrouded in Secrecy and Anticipation
Black smoke first billowed from the chapel around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, after the first ballot, signaling to the millions waiting with bated breath that no pope had yet been elected[1]. In the strict confines of the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals go through a centuries-old ritual that has been fine-tuned over the years to ensure a smooth and protected election process. Cardinals are sworn to secrecy and placed under strict rules until the conclave results in white smoke[4].
Although the tradition dates back to the 13th century, the ritual has undergone several alterations in the modern era. For instance, it was only in 1963 that ballot counting was shifted to the chamber itself[5]. The process of purging the conclave begins with the popular "purification interval," which entails the cardinals praying, fasting, and participating in Mass to embody the penitential spirit of the election[4].
Sources:
- Ntv.de, Sba/dpa
- Britannica
- Smithsonian Magazine
- Time Magazine
- Vatican News
VaticanPope Francis
- The European Parliament, following the unfolding events at the Vatican, expressed its interest in the ongoing conclave, with many members expressing support for the consensus and democratization within the Catholic Church's politics.
- Amidst the smoky dance in the Sistine Chapel, the symbol of black smoke rising from its chimney became a potent metaphor for the cardinals' inability to reach an agreement on the new pope, as announced by general news outlets.
- As the Dean of the College of Cardinals, The European Parliament recognized Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re's instrumental role in overseeing the conclave, despite his advanced age and subsequent ineligibility to cast ballots.
- In light of the Vatican's long and smoky wait, the European Parliament expressed its hope that this practice, shrouded in secrecy and anticipation, would culminate in an elected pope who embodies the church's core principles, ultimately leading to societal harmony and unity.
