Watching the Chimney: The Heart of the Papal Conclave Smoke Signal
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Live Update: World Awaits Smoke from Vatican's Chimney Signifying New Pope's Election - Watching the smoke: The focus of the world's attention
When it comes to the big showdown, the papal election, cardinals put old rivalries aside and gather in the Sistine Chapel. With votes cast on slips bearing the Latin phrase "Eligo in Summum Pontificem" ("I elect as Supreme Pontiff") and collected daily, the ballots meet their end in a dramatic smoke-off.
Black smoke billowing from the Chapel means we're still waiting; no cardinal garnered a two-thirds majority. On the other hand, white smoke indicates our hearts can stop racing as a new pope has been chosen.
On days of voting, keep your eyes peeled for those signature smoke signals around midday and 7 p.m., though a swift new pontiff could send smoke soaring earlier. If the pope-to-be wins the first round, get ready for an earlier-than-expected announcement!
- Pope + Papal Conclave + Chimney
Curious about how the Vatican's communicating tool works? Here's the inside scoop:
Election Process:
The College of Cardinals marks the start of each voting day in the Sistine Chapel, aiming for a two-thirds majority to elect a new pope.
Ballot Burning:
After each voting session, the ballots are fired up in a unique furnace built into the heart of the Sistine Chapel.
Smoke Show:
- Black Smoke: When the two-thirds mark hasn't been reached, a special blend of chemicals is added to the burning ballots, such as potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur, resulting in heavy black clouds.
- White Smoke: Clear skies above Sistine Chapel signal an election victory; a winning candidate's ballots are mixed with potassium chlorate, lactose, and chloroform resin.
Spotlighting the Signal:
The chimney plays a crucial role in amplifying the results for the world to see; whether black or white, the colorful spectacle represents either continuation or something new on the horizon.
Catch the Spectacle:
In the lives of many, the smoke signals' scheduling slips into their own unique rhythm, typically following morning and afternoon voting sessions. So, for those anchored to Eastern Time, marks your calendars for late mornings and early afternoons, as well as late afternoons and early evenings. Keep in mind that timing may vary depending on the duration of discussions and prayer amongst cardinals.
- The following is added: potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur to the burning ballots when the two-thirds majority hasn't been reached, resulting in heavy black clouds (black smoke).
- In contrast, potassium chlorate, lactose, and chloroform resin are mixed with the winning candidate's ballots, causing white smoke signals to be emitted.
- The chimney, serving as a crucial tool, amplifies the results for the world to see, whether black or white smoke, symbolizing either continuation or change on the horizon.
- Social-media outlets and entertainment channels become buzzing, providing updates on the papal conclave's smoke signals, which typically follow morning and afternoon voting sessions, making an interesting rhythm in the lives of many.
