Here's how the conclave creates black and white smoke and why the Catholic Church began using them to signal whether a new ...

For white smoke, a compound of the chemicals potassium chlorate, lactose, and rosin (also known as Greek pitch) is used, ...

At the end of each voting round, black smoke means a new pope has not yet to be selected, while white smoke indicates a new ...

A change in popes is a complicated process. Centuries-old rituals are involved in the transition in leadership for both the ...

Rather than soot, the smoke contains microscopic droplets and fine solids that are transparent or white. The result is a ...

The result is a mixture of steam and white or light gray smoke that contrasts sharply with the dark, carbon-rich black smoke. Over the years, the papal conclave smoke signal has evolved from an ...

The result is a mixture of steam and white or light gray smoke that contrasts sharply with the dark, carbon-rich black smoke. Over the years, the papal conclave smoke signal has evolved from an ...

Papal conclave ballots have been burned to maintain secrecy for centuries. Ballot smoke has been used to announce a decision ...

The result is a mixture of steam and white or light gray smoke that contrasts sharply with the dark, carbon-rich black smoke. Over the years, the papal conclave smoke signal has evolved from an ...

The process to elect the next Pope's underway, 16 days after the death of Pope Francis. Earlier all 133 voting cardinals ...

The 2025 papal conclave is underway. Who will be the new pope when the white smoke settles? Who is the odds-on favorite? Are ...

No cameras will be allowed inside the church during the vote, so the result will remain secret until white smoke emerges from ...