White Smoke Meaning Explained: Understanding Papal Conclave's Chapel Signals
World White Smoke Meaning Explained: Understanding Papal Conclave's Chapel Signals
Sistine Chapel Black Smoke. Black smoke billows out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on May 7, 2025. At the conclave in the Vatican, the cardinals were unable to agree on a new pope in the first round of voting. Photo by: Oliver Weiken/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Oliver Weiken/AP
Black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel's chimney on Wednesday, signaling that the College of Cardinals has not yet elected a new pope. The sighting dashed hopes for an early decision, as the world continued to watch for the moment when white smoke would declare that a new pontiff had been chosen.
The vote comes after Pope Francis's death last month. The papal conclave has not yet reached the required two-thirds consensus to select the new pope.
What Is the Conclave?
The conclave is the process by which a new pope is selected. Cardinal-electors under the age of 80 have gathered in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel. These individuals are sworn to secrecy and barred from communication with the outside world during the voting period to prevent biases during the selection of the new pope.
Ballots are cast throughout the day. After each round, the ballots are burned inside the chapel. If a pope is not elected, black smoke emerges from the chimney; if one is chosen, white smoke is released.
What Does White Smoke From the Vatican Mean?
White smoke is the Vatican's time-honored signal to the world that a new pope has been elected. This moment is traditionally followed by the new pontiff's appearance on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, where the cardinal proto-deacon announces "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope"), according to the Catholic News Agency.
As of Wednesday, the absence of white smoke indicated that the cardinals have not reached the two-thirds majority required to elect a pope.
White and Black Smoke Meaning Explained
Burning cardinals' paper ballots dates back to the 15th century, when it was done to prevent tampering.
Modern conclaves employ a chemical process to make the smoke more distinguishable. BBC Future reports that a blend of potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur generates black smoke, while white smoke is created with potassium chlorate, lactose, and conifer resin, called rosin.
Who Is the Youngest Cardinal?
The age range among the cardinal-electors adds to the diversity of perspectives within the conclave. Catholic News Agency reports that one of the youngest in the conclave is Cardinal Mykola Bychok, 45, from Ukraine. Pope Francis appointed him the eparchial bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul in Melbourne, Australia, in January 2020.
What Happens Next
The cardinals will reconvene on Thursday to continue voting. If no consensus is reached, the process will continue with additional rounds, with intermittent breaks, until a candidate secures the necessary two-thirds support. Each vote will conclude with another signal from the chapel chimney—black smoke if no decision is made, white if the Church has a new leader.
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This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM.
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