Black smoke from Sistine Chapel signals no new pope

Thick black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel's chimney Wednesday, in a sign that cardinals failed to elect a new pope in their first conclave vote.

Thousands of people were awaiting the smoke from St Peter's Square at the end of the first day of the secretive vote by 133 cardinals for the next leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

The election of a new pope is a significant event for the Catholic Church, occurring within a conclave, a secretive and highly ritualized process held in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.

The Conclave Process

A conclave is convened to elect a new pope following the death or resignation of the previous pope.

The term "conclave" comes from the Latin cum clave ("with a key"), referring to the cardinals being locked in the Sistine Chapel until a pope is chosen.

Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, and the article notes 133 cardinals are participating, indicating the size of the voting body.

Significance of the Smoke

The smoke from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney is a traditional signal to the world about the conclave’s progress:

Black smoke (produced by burning the ballots with a chemical additive) indicates no candidate has received the required two-thirds majority (in this case, at least 89 votes from 133 cardinals).

White smoke signals a successful election, with a new pope chosen.

The black smoke mentioned in the article shows the cardinals did not reach a consensus in their first round of voting on Wednesday, a common occurrence as discussions and deliberations continue.

Voting Procedure

Voting typically occurs in multiple rounds, with up to four ballots per day (two in the morning, two in the afternoon).

Cardinals write their chosen candidate’s name on a ballot, and votes are counted in a highly formal process. If no candidate achieves a two-thirds majority, the ballots are burned to produce black smoke.

This process repeats until a pope is elected or, in rare cases, adjustments are made to the voting rules after prolonged deadlock.

Historical Context

The conclave tradition dates back centuries, with the Sistine Chapel serving as the primary venue since the 15th century. The use of smoke as a signal began in the 19th century to communicate with the public.

Recent conclaves, such as the 2013 election of Pope Francis, often take a few days. The 2013 conclave saw black smoke on the first day before white smoke on the second day, indicating a relatively quick decision.

Why This Matters

The pope is the spiritual leader of approximately 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide (as noted in the article) and holds significant influence on global religious, social, and political issues.

The choice of pope can shape the Church’s direction, including its stance on issues like climate change, social justice, interfaith dialogue, and internal reforms.

Once a pope is elected, the senior cardinal deacon will appear on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to announce “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”), followed by the new pope’s first blessing.

This background provides the necessary context to understand the article’s focus on the black smoke, the conclave’s secrecy, and the anticipation surrounding the election of the next leader of the Catholic Church.