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

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

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 ...

When the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel spouts white smoke, it means that the Catholic Church officially has a new pope.

But what does the smoke mean? What does the white and black smoke mean during the conclave? There are multiple voting rounds ...

STORY: :: A pyrotechnic expert explains how the black and white papal smoke signals are created :: May 2, 2025 :: Rome, Italy ::Massimiliano De Sanctis, Fireworks expert ''During the conclave the ...

In the coming days plumes of black or white smoke will rise from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel, signaling the voting at the conclave of Roman Catholic cardinals to find Pope Francis' successor. A ...

Their ballots will be burned in a way that sends smoke that's either black (inconclusive vote) or white (someone has been elected). And while they're contemplating their decisions, the dramatic ...

Black smoke indicates that the Cardinals don't agree and must vote again. When white smoke is seen from the chimney, it is a signal to the public that the Roman Catholic Church has a new leader.