How the Vatican makes his smoke signal

When the Catholic Church chooses a new pope, the world watches not for a press conference or a post on social media, but for rising smoke from a small chimney of the Sistine Chapel.

If the smoke is black, no new pope is selected. If it's white, a decision is made: We have a pope – We have a pope. This is a high drama, broadcast live to millions.

But what the viewers do not see is the hidden complexity of the age -old ritual: the carefully constructed chimney, the engineering stove and the exact chemical recipes, each part is carefully designed to ensure that a strand of smoke carries a clear message.

Experts told the BBC that the process requires “two personalized fireworks”, rehearsals of smoke tests and Vatican firefighters in standby mode. He is thoroughly organized by a team of engineers and church officials working in unison.

Pope Francis died on Easter on Monday at 88 years old and with the funeral was already over, the attention turned to the Conclave, a private meeting through which a new pope would be selected.

The Vatican confirmed that the cardinals would meet in the St. Peter Basilica on May 7 to celebrate a special liturgy before gathering inside the Sistine Chapel, Where the complex vote will beginS

The tradition of burning paper newsletters of the cardinals dates from the 15th century and becomes part of the conclave rituals aimed at providing transparency and preventing seasoning, especially since the worse delays in the papal elections led to public impotence and unrest.

Over time, the Vatican began to use smoke as a way of communicating with the outside world, while maintaining the strict confidentiality of voting.

Even today, despite the myriad of communication achievements, the Vatican has chosen to preserve the tradition.

“From ancient times, people have seen increasing smoke – of animal and grain victims in the Bible or of burning incense in tradition – as a form of human communication with the Divine,” a professor of theology at the University of Birmingham told the BBC Candida Moss.

“In the Catholic tradition, prayers climb to God. The use of smoke causes these religious rituals and the aesthetics of the miracle and mystery that accompany them.”

Prof. Moss also says that the rising smoke allows the people who gather on St. Peter's square “to feel included – as if they were included in this mysterious and secret affair.”

The reasons are symbolic, but what works in the 21st century requires real -world engineering.

Inside the Sistine Chapel, two stoves are temporarily installed specifically for the conclave: one for burning newsletters and the other for generating smoke signals.

Both stoves are connected to a small smoke – A pipe within a chimney that allows the smoke to escape – leading up through the roof of the chapel from the outside. On Friday, fire crews were seen on the roof, carefully attaching the chimney to the top as the workers erected the skeleton and constructed the stoves inside.

The Silin Chapel, which was built more than 500 years ago, is home to one of the most famous ceilings in the world. Decorated with Michelangelo's murals, it is not exactly designed for smoke signals and the chimney must be installed discreetly and safely.

This is a complex process. The technicians either use an existing opening or create a temporary hatch through which smoke is inserted – usually of metal such as iron or steel. The pipe moves from the stoves outside, exit through the tile covers above the square of St. Peter.

Each joint is sealed to prevent leaks and each component is tested. Specialists rehearse smoke tests in the days before the start of the conclave, ensuring that the drawing of chimneys is working in real time. Even the Vatican firefighters participate; in a standby mode in case of malfunction.

“This is such a precise process because if one thing goes wrong, it is not just a technical failure – it becomes an international incident,” said Kevin Farlam, a structural engineer who worked on hereditary properties, in front of the BBC. “It's not like placing a pizza oven. Each part of the system must be installed without damaging anything.”

This setting was constructed days before the arrival of the cardinals and was dismantled after a pope was selected.

To ensure that the signal is visible, the Vatican technicians use a combination of chemicals.

“What they essentially build here is two personalized fireworks,” said Prof. Mark Lorch, Head of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of HU, before the BBC.

“For black smoke, a mixture of potassium perhlorate, anthracene and sulfur is burned – produces thick, dark smoke.

“For white smoke, a combination of potassium chlorate, lactose and pine rosin is used, which burns clean and pale.

“In the past, they tried to burn moist straw to create a darker smoke and dry straw to make a simpler smoke -but it caused some confusion because it sometimes looked gray.”

He explained that these chemicals were “pre -packed in cartridges and ignited electronically”, so there is no ambiguity.

The addition of bell ringing – introduced during the election of Pope Benedict XVI – now serves as a confirmation and is used with the smoke signal.

Over the years, there have been suggestions for the modernization of the system: colored lights, digital signals or even television votes. But for the Vatican, the ritual is not just a communication tool – this is a moment of continuity with centuries of tradition.

“This is a tradition and a secret, but there is also a real theological rise to it,” said Prof. Moss.

“Plus the Catholic Church and the” avant -garde “are far from the synonyms – innovation is almost antithetic to the ritual.”