A Tradition Unveiled: The Double Stove of the Sistine Chapel
Smoke Signals at Conclave: The Significance and Generation of White and Black Smoke
For over two centuries, the (age-old) "smoke" has been an integral part of every Papal election. The big day is here; the chimney on the Sistine Chapel's roof, where the "smokes" will billow out, signifying the Conclave's voting outcome, has been installed. This chimney connects to a pair of stoves placed within the Chapel where the cardinal electors will torch the ballots for the new Pope's election. Since 1914, the color of the smoke has varied according to the results: "black smoke" in instances where the majority has not been attained, "white smoke" if the Cardinals have succeeded in electing the new Pope.
The Inside Story of the Double Stove
The Evolution of the Stove
It was during the 1978 Conclave that only a single stove was employed. That time marked the ascension of Karol Wojtyla to the papal throne as John Paul II. Interestingly, two groundbreaking alterations were introduced under his papacy: the implementation of the double stove, and the tolling of St. Peter's bells in celebration. These intricate modifications, apart from expressing joy upon the election of the new Pope, serve as audible verifications of the election.
The historic stove, dating back to the 1939 Conclave, is made of cast iron and exhibits the dates of its utilization on its surface. The system is heated by electrical resistors and boasts an improvement fan that enhances its draft.
The Coloring of the Smoke
The secret behind the color of the smoke lies in the second stove, connected to the initial one via an exhaust duct. In this appliance, chemical substances are introduced that change the color of the "smoke":
- potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur for the black;
- potassium chlorate, lactose, and colophony for the white.
Prior to 2005, the yellow smoke was employed to verify the stove's functionality before the initiation of the Conclave. Since the election of Benedict XVI, this process has been substituted with a less engaging electronic system ensuring the stove's proper functioning.
The Early Ages of the Smoke Signal
If the first Conclave saw the light of day in 1276, one has to wait nearly six centuries to observe the first "smoke." From the nineteenth century onwards, cardinals started burning ballots with straw, informing the outside world that the voting had taken place. Prior to the election of Pope Benedict XV, in 1914, there was no distinction made between white smoke and black smoke.
Enrichment Insights:
The double stove used during papal elections in the Sistine Chapel is a significant element in the papal conclave process. The primary aim of these stoves is to signal to the world whether a new pope has been elected or not through the color of the smoke emitted and to maintain secrecy by incinerating the ballots.
- During the Conclave, the double stove placed within the Sistine Chapel is utilized to burn the ballots, with the chimney on the roof releasing either black or white smoke, signifying whether a majority has been reached or not.
- The evolution of the stove saw a notable change in 1978 when a double stove was employed, under the papacy of John Paul II, with the aim of providing audible verification in addition to the traditional smoke signaling.
- The colors of the smoke, black or white, are determined by chemical substances introduced into the second stove, connected to the initial one via an exhaust duct.
- Social media and entertainment have become platforms for millions to engage with the papal election process, awaiting the chimney's smoke to signal the installation of a new Pope, reflecting the modern integration of technology into traditional religious ceremonies.
