02.05.2025 12:21
After the death of Pope Francis, all eyes turned to the Vatican for the election of a new pope in the Catholic Church. Ahead of the conclave, which will begin on May 7, Vatican firefighters set up a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke coming from this chimney indicates that the necessary majority has not been achieved, while white smoke signifies that a new pope has been elected.
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After the death of the spiritual leader of Catholics and the President of the Vatican City, Pope Francis, on April 21, all eyes in the Catholic Church turned to who will be the 267th Pope.
The new papal election, meaning the cardinal in Rome, was decided to start the Conclave on Wednesday, May 7, at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. In this context, Vatican firefighters set up a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel for the upcoming Conclave.
THE WORLD'S EYES WILL BE ON THE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THIS CHIMNEY
During these meetings, which will last until a new pope is elected, various rounds of voting will be held. Depending on the results of the votes, black or white smoke will rise from the chimney placed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke symbolizes that no agreement has been reached yet; white smoke will signify that a new pope has been elected.
HERE ARE THE STRONGEST PAPAL CANDIDATES
Here are some of the names mentioned as potential successors to Pope Francis:
Pietro Parolin
Nationality: Italian
Age: 70
Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle
Nationality: Filipino
Age: 67
Fridolin Ambongo Besungu
Nationality: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Age: 65
Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson
Nationality: Ghanaian
Age: 76
HOW DOES THE POPE ELECTION (CONCLAVE) PROCESS WORK?
During the sede vacante period, which means the papal seat is vacant, the administrative affairs of the Vatican will be managed by the Camerlengo (head chamberlain) Cardinal Kevin Farrell from the USA.
Unless there is an exceptional situation, the papal election (conclave), which has inspired novels and films with its rituals, mysterious atmosphere, and intrigues, will begin within 15-20 days after entering the sede vacante period. The term Conclave comes from the Latin words cum and clave, meaning locked with a key. The election of the pope is indeed conducted by locking the electors in the Sistine Chapel with a key.
SELECT CARDINALS' COMMUNICATION WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD WILL BE CUT OFF
During the conclave, extraordinary security measures will be taken at Casa Santa Marta, and precautions will be implemented to prevent communication with the outside world. The communication of the electing cardinals will be cut off to prevent them from being influenced during the election process.
THE LONGEST POPE ELECTION IN HISTORY LASTED 1006 DAYS
After the electing cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel with prayers and hymns, the liturgical director will announce in Latin "extra omnes" (everyone out). From this moment on, the cardinals will be locked in the Sistine Chapel and will begin voting. The shortest conclave in the last century was the 1939 election, which ended in three votes over two days. The longest was in 1958, which lasted four days with 11 votes. The longest papal election in history was the one that lasted 1006 days and concluded in 1271.
TWO-THIRDS VOTE IS REQUIRED
In the conclave, cardinals under the age of 80 will vote. The number of cardinals eligible to vote is currently at a record high of 136. A two-thirds majority of the electing cardinals is required for the papal election. However, if no pope has been elected after the first 34 votes, a vote will be held between the two candidates with the most votes in the last round.
THERE ARE NO REQUIREMENTS OTHER THAN BEING A SINGLE MALE AND CATHOLIC
There are no official candidates in the papal election. Technically, there are no requirements other than being a single male and Catholic to be elected pope, but traditionally, popes are chosen from among the cardinals participating in the election. An example outside of this tradition was when, due to the inability to elect a pope for nearly two years in the 13th century, the cardinals declared the monk Pietro da Morrone, at the priest level, as pope. This pope, who took the name Celestine V, was also exceptional because he resigned a few months later.
BLACK SMOKE-WHITE SMOKE RITUAL
The last conclave in 2013 began with the announcement of "extra omnes" at 17:33 on March 12, and the first black smoke was seen the same day at 19:41. On March 13, at 19:06, the appearance of white smoke signaled that a new pope had been elected. The black smoke-white smoke ritual is the first sign indicating to those waiting in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican or in front of their screens whether a new pope has been elected. The appearance of black smoke from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel means that the necessary majority has not been achieved, while white smoke indicates that a new pope has been elected.
The appearance of white smoke means that the electing cardinals have reached the necessary majority of votes for a candidate, and that candidate has accepted the papal office. Immediately after, the new pope is asked what name he wishes to use in this position.
THE NEW POPE WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC AFTER TAKING AN OATH OF LOYALTY AND PRAYER
Then, the new pope is taken to a room with three different sizes of white papal garments and dressed. This room is also referred to as the "crying room" due to the emotional weight created by the significance of the papal garments.
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The new Pope is presented to the public from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after the cardinals' oath of allegiance and prayer. The identity of the new pope is announced with the proclamation "Habemus Papam" (we have a pope). And the new pope addresses the 1.3 billion Catholics with his first "Urbi et orbi" (to the city and to the world) speech from the balcony.