The Vatican prepares for Conclave: Sistine chapel undergoes 'radical transformation' as famous chimney is installed by firefighters ahead of mysterious election of new Pope

Daily Mail​

02-05-2025

Vatican workmen have begun installing a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel ahead of next week's conclave which will elect a new Pope.
The secret meeting of the 133 Cardinal electors takes place in the mesmerising beauty of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel – as seen in the hit Oscar winning blockbuster Conclave with Ralph Fiennes.
News that a Pope has – or hasn't been elected - will be related to the world via the chimney stack, with white smoke meaning there is a decision while black smoke signifies the cardinals are still undecided.
The smoke comes from the burning of the ballot papers with an environmentally friendly chemical added to produce the black and white colour in what is always a history defining moment.
An insider said the Sistine Chapel would undergo a 'radical transformation' so that it would be ready for one of the most 'mysterious and solemn rituals of the Catholic Church'.
Cardinals – including three from the UK – will take part in a series of votes once they have processed into the Sistine Chapel next Thursday afternoon for the start of the conclave and they are locked away from the world during the vote.
In theory any baptised Catholic male can be elected Pope but since 1378 it has always been one of the cardinals.
All electronic gadgets are taken away from them and they are not allowed to communicate with the outside world so that only 'God and the Holy Spirit' can influence their decision.
The chimney that was installed on Friday was first used in 1939 and tests are due to be carried out this weekend to make sure it is working properly so that nothing is left to chance for the big day
Vatican officials say the first vote will be held on Thursday evening and then there will be further rounds of voting – two in the morning and two after lunch until a decision on who will be the 267th Pope is reached.
Short conclaves wrapped up in a couple of days project an image of unity, experts say.
'Maximum three days,' Salvadoran Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez confidently predicted this week ahead of the secret ballot.
The conclave to elect the late Pope Francis – who died aged 88 on easter Monday took two days – and sources indicated that a similar amount of time would be needed for the upcoming vote.
The average length of the last 10 conclaves was 3.2 days and none went on for more than five.
The conclave takes place over as many rounds of voting as needed until one candidate gets a two-thirds majority, triggering the billowing white smoke that tells the waiting world a new papacy has begun.
'Clearly the more ballots you have, the more difficult things have become,' Giovanni Vian, a professor of Christian history at Venice's Ca' Foscari University, said.
'But the signs are that they want to proceed quickly.'
Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and Vatican commentator, said: 'If we don't get a new pope quickly it will show that the push for the frontrunners petered out very quickly.
'It will also reinforce the fact that there are a lot of cardinals in there and they just don't know each other very well.
'I wouldn't panic if we don't have a pope by the end of day two, but if there still isn't any white smoke by the end of the third day, then we start to get worried.'
While no discussion between cardinals is permitted during the voting sessions themselves, cardinals are free to exchange views over meals at Santa Marta, the Vatican residence where most will be staying.
Germany's Gerhard Mueller has been giving daily newspaper interviews rallying traditionalist ranks, while numerous voices, including Canadian Michael Czerny, have been pushing for Francis' moderate vision to prevail.
The chimney that was installed on Friday was first used in 1939 and tests are due to be carried out this weekend to make sure it is working properly so that nothing is left to chance for the big day.
To make the black some potassium, anthracene and sulphur is used while the white is a mixture of potassium, lactose and chloroform resin and since 2005 artificial flares have been used to enhance the tone of the smoke which must last six minutes.
The Sistine Chapel was closed to the public earlier this week to start the preparations and a team of engineers, firemen, carpet fitters, electricians and carpenter have been working inside.
To ensure no one can listen to the debates and voting the Chapel is swept for bugs and famously one Cardinal tried to call the late Pope Benedict in 2013 to tell him Pope Francis had been elected but couldn't get through as there was no signal.
This will be the first time such a large number of electing cardinals have gathered – in fact there would be another two who also meet the under 80 age limit but they are ill and will not be there in person.
As such a special platform is being bult inside the Sistine Chapel to accommodate the cardinals who when the conclave starts will be locked inside after the master of ceremonies cries out in Latin 'Extra Omnes' (Everybody out).
The cardinals will be allowed out for meals and will be sleeping in the Vatican Domus Martha, a sort of hotel for clergy and where the late Pope Francis lived, shunning the luxury of the Papal apartments.
The frescos in the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel show key Biblical scenes and are said to help 'influence and guide the minds' of the cardinals as they make their decision as to who should lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics - and any cardinal who betrays the secrets of the vote is excommunicated.
In order to have a winner a two thirds majority must be reached, and the winner is always asked if they are prepared to accept the job.
And if they do they are taken to the Stanza delle Lacrime (Room of Tears) so named as they weep because of the enormity of the role, and he is then dressed in his white Papal robes and led out onto the balcony of St Peter's to greet the ecstatic crowds.