How Smoke Became the World’s Sign That a New Pope Has Been Chosen
When it comes to papal elections, the Vatican doesn’t issue breaking news alerts or televised press conferences. Instead, it turns to something far older and more elemental: smoke. In a world saturated with digital updates, the sight of a simple plume of smoke curling from a copper chimney atop the Sistine Chapel is still how the world learns whether the Catholic Church has a new pope. White smoke means yes. Black smoke means not yet. It is a moment of both ancient mystery and high anticipation.
This now-iconic system dates back to the 19th century, with the first clear historical record appearing in 1823. At that time, conclaves were still held in the Quirinale Palace — now the residence of the Italian president — and although ballots had long been burned after voting, there is no evidence the smoke was initially intended as a signal. Over time, however, it became just that: a visible message to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, waiting in prayer and suspense.
The smoke is produced by burning the cardinals’ ballots, along with any notes, in a cast-iron stove inside the Sistine Chapel. After the first vote on day one, four ballots follow each day — two in the morning, two in the afternoon — until a candidate receives the required two-thirds majority. If no pope is elected after a round, the ballots are burned to produce black smoke. If a pope is elected, the ballots are burned in a way that produces white smoke — the world’s signal that the Chair of Saint Peter is no longer vacant.
Originally, the white color was achieved by adding damp straw to the fire. But this method was unreliable, often producing grayish smoke that left crowds confused. In the 1958 conclave, during the election of John XXIII, smoke appeared white on two occasions before a pope had actually been chosen — triggering premature celebrations and conspiracy theories. To resolve this, the Vatican began using colored cartridges in 1978, during the conclaves that elected both John Paul I and John Paul II. These cartridges contained chemical compounds similar to fireworks to enhance the smoke’s visibility. Still, the method was not perfect — in one broadcast from 1978, a reporter’s frantic voice exclaimed, “You can’t understand anything!” as smoke changed mid-air from white to black.
In 2005, during the election of Benedict XVI, the Vatican finally introduced a more reliable system. A custom-designed electronic device, developed by fireworks expert Massimiliano De Sanctis, was installed next to the original stove. Both units share the same chimney flue. During each vote, six cartridges are loaded — black or white depending on the result. Once ballots are burned, a cardinal presses a button that sets off the color cartridges. The smoke now billows clearly and consistently for about seven minutes.
Still, to eliminate any lingering doubt, the Vatican has added a second sign: when the white smoke appears, the great bells of St. Peter’s Basilica begin to ring, soon joined by churches across Rome. This powerful combination of fire and sound leaves no room for uncertainty — the Church has spoken.
And so, every few decades, the world once again turns its gaze skyward. The message is wordless but unmistakable. The chimney has spoken. Habemus Papam.