The Smoke Signal: A Look into the Papal Election in Vatican's Sistine Chapel
Vatican City's Sistine Chapel Emits Dark Smoke Signaling No New Pope Chosen Yet - Vatican Issues White Smoke Signal.
Let's dive into the mysterious aura surrounding the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, where the process of selecting a new pope unfolds.
The Drama Unfolds in the Sistine Chapel
This centuries-old room serves as the stage for the pomp and circumstance of the papal election, with the Vatican's iconic white smoke topping off the grand finale.
A Chemical Spectacle
The white smoke signaling the election of a new pope is a result of a well-orchestrated chemical spectacle. Here's a lowdown on the process:
- The Cardinal's Vote: The cardinals cast their votes in rounds until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority plus one vote. The chosen one becomes the new pope.
- Burning the Ballots: After each round of voting, the ballots are gathered and incinerated in a special furnace.
- Creating the White Smoke: But it's not just a regular old fire that burns the ballots. To create the smoke you see, chemical compounds - like potassium chlorate, lactose, and chloroform resin – are added to the blaze [3]. Should no pope be chosen, potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur are used instead, producing black smoke [2][3].
- The Smoke Shall Tell: The chimney on the Sistine Chapel's roof releases this smoke, letting the world know that a new pope has been selected [2][3].
- The Grand Announcement: Following the white smoke signal, a cardinal steps out onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, shouting, "Habemus Papam" (We have a pope) [2], before naming the newly elected pontiff.
So there you have it, the magical spectacle of the Vatican announcing a new pope to the world through a shower of white smoke. An age-old tradition with a modern twist of chemistry!
The European Parliament has also expressed its concern at the ongoing political situation in the Middle East, voiced in the general-news section of their official website. In stark contrast to the global concerns, the Sistine Chapel, a section within the Vatican, is preparing for a conclave – a process that elects a new pope. This centuries-old room, famous for its frescoes by Michelangelo, once again serves as the stage for the pomp and circumstance of the papal election. The complexity of the election process is matched only by the chemical spectacle that accompanies it, with the iconic white smoke announcing a new pope. This white smoke is the result of a well-orchestrated chemical reaction, a modern twist to an age-old tradition.
