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Sky News
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
How does the Sistine Chapel prepare for conclave?
Work to prepare the Sistine Chapel for the gathering of the cardinals to elect a new pope has begun. The building in Vatican City is the second most visited museum in the world and will become the focus of the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church as it chooses a successor to Pope Francis. Once the conclave to decide the new pope begins on 7 May, the cardinals will not emerge until someone has been chosen. What work is being carried out? The main task is the installation of the chimney that will signal the election of a new pope. Vatican firefighters were on the roof of the Sistine Chapel on Friday to begin the installation, a key moment in the preparation. It took place as cardinals arrived in the Vatican for another day of pre-conclave discussions about the needs of the Catholic Church and the type of pope needed to run it. The cardinals will use smoke to signal to the world whether a round of voting has been decisive or not. If the cardinals have not reached a majority, the cards and the tally sheets are placed in a stove and burned with an additive to produce black smoke, showing the outside world that a pope has not yet been chosen. Once a two-thirds majority is reached, the ballots are burned as before, but with an additive to produce white smoke. Catholics traditionally gather in St Peter's Square to watch for the smoke above the chapel. What does it mean for tourists? Many visitors to the surrounding city of Rome plan time to view the famous chapel at Vatican City - the world's smallest independent state - with a high number of trips scheduled well in advance. But for those heading there now, they will be unable to visit. "Notice is hereby given that the Sistine Chapel will be closed to the public from Monday 28 April 2025 for the requirements of the Conclave," reads a statement on the Vatican Museums' website. Nearly seven million people are said to have visited the chapel in 2023, with many travelling across the world to view the paintings and structure. But viewings will not be possible until after the election of a new pope. Tours of the archaeological area, the Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis, and the Vatican Gardens have also been suspended. When was the chapel first used for a conclave? This was after the death of Pope Sixtus IV in 1484, who had been the pontiff since 1471 and after whom the building takes its name. A number of conclaves have been held elsewhere, including several in the 19th century at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, which is formerly a summer palace for the popes and currently the official residence of the Italian president. The Sistine Chapel has been the site of all conclaves since 1878. What art and detail can be seen at the chapel? The cardinals will be surrounded by the great beauty of the frescoes painted by Michelangelo and other renowned Renaissance artists. The most recognisable is Michelangelo's Creation Of Adam, showing God's outstretched hand imparting the divine spark of life to the first man. Pope Sixtus IV was an art patron who oversaw the construction and restoration of the main papal chapel - originally called the Cappella Magna - in the 15th century. But it was a later pontiff, Julius II, who commissioned the works by Michelangelo. The Italian sculptor and painter created the ceiling art depicting scenes from Genesis from 1508 and 1512, and then later returned to paint the Last Judgement on one of the walls before it was unveiled in 1541. The side walls are decorated by other artists, including Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli and Domenico Ghirlandaio. German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once remarked: "Without having seen the Sistine Chapel, one can form no appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving." The chapel's dimensions and thick doors The cardinals will spend time electing a new pope in a chapel which is 40m (131ft) long, 13m (43ft) wide and 21m (69ft) high. It is lit on either side by high windows. Built from 1473 to 1481, the chapel has thick double doors that will ensure the cardinals are not interrupted. The surroundings are as much a key part of the secretive process aimed at shielding the vote from external interference.
Sky News
28-04-2025
- Sky News
Sistine Chapel to close ahead of conclave: Here's how it's preparing for gathering of cardinals
Work to prepare the Sistine Chapel for the gathering of the cardinals to elect a new pope has begun. The building in Vatican City is the second most visited museum in the world and will become the focus of the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church as it chooses a successor to Pope Francis. The Vatican has confirmed the conclave to elect a new pope will take place on 7 May. What work is being carried out? The main task is the installation of the chimney where ballots will be burned after votes have been made. The cardinals will use smoke to signal to the world whether the round of voting has been decisive or not. Black smoke will indicate no decision, but white will confirm a new pope has been elected. Catholics traditionally gather in St Peter's Square to watch for the smoke above the chapel. What does it mean for tourists? Many visitors to the surrounding city of Rome plan time to view the famous chapel at Vatican City - the world's smallest independent state - with a high number of trips scheduled well in advance. But for those heading there now, they will be unable to visit. "Notice is hereby given that the Sistine Chapel will be closed to the public from Monday 28 April 2025 for the requirements of the Conclave," reads a statement on the Vatican Museums' website. Nearly seven million people are said to have visited the chapel in 2023 with many travelling across the world to view the paintings and structure. But viewings will not be possible until after the election of a new pope. Tours of the archaeological area, the Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis, and the Vatican Gardens have also been suspended. When was the chapel first used for a conclave? This was after the death of Pope Sixtus IV in 1484, who had been the pontiff since 1471 and after whom the building takes its name. A number of conclaves have been held elsewhere, including several in the 19th century at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, which is formerly a summer palace for the popes and currently the official residence of the Italian president. The Sistine Chapel has been the site of all conclaves since 1878. What art and detail can be seen at the chapel? The cardinals will be surrounded by the great beauty of the frescoes painted by Michelangelo and other renowned Renaissance artists. The most recognisable is Michelangelo's Creation Of Adam, showing God's outstretched hand imparting the divine spark of life to the first man. Pope Sixtus IV was an art patron who oversaw the construction and restoration of the main papal chapel - originally called the Cappella Magna - in the 15th century. But it was a later pontiff, Julius II, who commissioned the works by Michelangelo. The Italian sculptor and painter created the ceiling art depicting scenes from Genesis from 1508 and 1512, and then later returned to paint the Last Judgement on one of the walls before it was unveiled in 1541. The side walls are decorated by other artists, including Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli and Domenico Ghirlandaio. German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once remarked: "Without having seen the Sistine Chapel, one can form no appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving." 2:22 The chapel's dimensions and thick doors The cardinals will spend time electing a new pope in a chapel which is 40m (131ft) long, 13m (43ft) wide and 21m (69ft) high. It is lit on either side by high windows. Built from 1473 to 1481, the chapel has thick double doors that will ensure the cardinals are not interrupted. The surroundings are as much a key part of the secretive process aimed at shielding the vote from external interference.
Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Straits Times
Sistine Chapel's conclave preparations leave tourists shut out
A view of the roof of the Sistine Chapel, where a chimney for the conclave will be set, at the Vatican, as seen from Rome, Italy, April 28, 2025. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis VATICAN CITY - It is one of the wonders of the world, attracting millions of visitors every year. But those now in Rome hoping to admire the Sistine Chapel will not get their fix of its monumental Michelangelo frescoes. "Notice is hereby given that the Sistine Chapel will be closed to the public from Monday 28 April 2025 for the requirements of the Conclave," reads a terse statement on the Vatican Museums' website. The conclave, the secret meeting to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church after the death of Pope Francis, starts on May 7, but preparations to host the more than 130 cardinals due to take part take several days. "To come from so far, to not be able to go into one of the major sites is very disappointing," said Leonie Shannon, a 67-year-old tourist from Australia. The chapel's ceilings are adorned with scenes painted between 1508 and 1512 from the Bible's Old and New Testaments. The most famous is "The Creation of Adam", in which God reaches with his finger to touch the outstretched hand of the first man. Michelangelo also painted the awe-inspiring "Last Judgment" on the wall behind the altar, while other Renaissance artists such as Botticelli, Perugino and Ghirlandaio decorated its side walls. "This is a truly great work of art that we've studied, so we hoped that we could witness it firsthand," said Guo Feng, one of a group of art students from China. "It's really unfortunate that we can't see it on this trip. It's a big regret for us." But many visitors also acknowledged the extraordinary circumstances that required the closure of the most popular part of the Vatican Museums. "We were a little bit sad (when) we heard the Sistine Chapel was closed, we really wanted to see the 'Creation of (Adam)', right?" said Ahmad Mourad, a visitor from Texas in the U.S. "But we understand the situation and everything." Even without the chapel, the Vatican Museums contain one of the great art collections, stretching from ancient Roman sculptures to 19th- and 20th-century masters such as Van Gogh and Matisse. "(It) would have been amazing to see the Michelangelo, ... I mean, that's stunning. But look, I think we still enjoyed what we saw. There were still many, many, many rooms that we could explore ... But yeah, obviously disappointed," said Australian Sharyn Davis. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Sistine Chapel's conclave preparations leave tourists shut out
By Malgorzata Wojtunik and Leonardo Benassatto VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - It is one of the wonders of the world, attracting millions of visitors every year. But those now in Rome hoping to admire the Sistine Chapel will not get their fix of its monumental Michelangelo frescoes. "Notice is hereby given that the Sistine Chapel will be closed to the public from Monday 28 April 2025 for the requirements of the Conclave," reads a terse statement on the Vatican Museums' website. The conclave, the secret meeting to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church after the death of Pope Francis, starts on May 7, but preparations to host the more than 130 cardinals due to take part take several days. "To come from so far, to not be able to go into one of the major sites is very disappointing," said Leonie Shannon, a 67-year-old tourist from Australia. The chapel's ceilings are adorned with scenes painted between 1508 and 1512 from the Bible's Old and New Testaments. The most famous is "The Creation of Adam", in which God reaches with his finger to touch the outstretched hand of the first man. Michelangelo also painted the awe-inspiring "Last Judgment" on the wall behind the altar, while other Renaissance artists such as Botticelli, Perugino and Ghirlandaio decorated its side walls. "This is a truly great work of art that we've studied, so we hoped that we could witness it firsthand," said Guo Feng, one of a group of art students from China. "It's really unfortunate that we can't see it on this trip. It's a big regret for us." But many visitors also acknowledged the extraordinary circumstances that required the closure of the most popular part of the Vatican Museums. "We were a little bit sad (when) we heard the Sistine Chapel was closed, we really wanted to see the 'Creation of (Adam)', right?" said Ahmad Mourad, a visitor from Texas in the U.S. "But we understand the situation and everything." Even without the chapel, the Vatican Museums contain one of the great art collections, stretching from ancient Roman sculptures to 19th- and 20th-century masters such as Van Gogh and Matisse. "(It) would have been amazing to see the Michelangelo, ... I mean, that's stunning. But look, I think we still enjoyed what we saw. There were still many, many, many rooms that we could explore ... But yeah, obviously disappointed," said Australian Sharyn Davis.
Roya News
28-04-2025
- General
- Roya News
Vatican closes Sistine Chapel in preparation for papal conclave
The Vatican officially closed the Sistine Chapel to visitors on Monday as it begins the process of preparing for the conclave, the secretive gathering where Catholic cardinals select the next pope. "Notice is hereby given that the Sistine Chapel will be closed to the public as of Monday, 28 April 2025 for the requirements of the conclave," read a statement posted on the Vatican Museums' website. The closure comes as the Church anticipates announcing the official start date for the conclave. The Sistine Chapel, famous for its Renaissance frescoes by Michelangelo, traditionally serves as the venue where cardinals from across the globe convene to cast their votes under strict secrecy until a new pontiff is chosen.
