Vatican Installs Sistine Chapel Chimney Ahead of Papal Conclave

Preparations for the papal conclave are underway in Vatican City, where firefighters today installed the iconic chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, signaling the countdown to next week’s secretive vote to elect the next pope.

The chimney—visible from nearby St. Peter’s Square—will play a key role in communicating the outcome of the conclave, which begins May 7, following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21. Thousands of faithful are expected to gather in the square, watching the chimney for the colored smoke that traditionally signals whether a new pope has been chosen.

Out of 252 cardinals summoned to Rome, only 135 are under the age of 80 and thus eligible to vote. From this group, 120 will be selected to participate in the conclave—and any of them could become the next pontiff.

In the days leading up to the conclave, the cardinals have met to discuss the future of the Catholic Church and the challenges it faces. These sessions included detailed briefings on the Vatican’s financial difficulties and gave participants the chance to outline what qualities they believe the new pope should embody.

The Sistine Chapel’s chimney has become a symbol of global significance during papal elections. After each round of voting—typically two rounds per day—ballots are burned in a special stove inside the chapel. If no pope is elected, a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur is added to produce black smoke. When a pope has been chosen, the ballots are burned with a mix that produces white smoke—often triggering cheers and prayers from the crowd below.

The last time white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney was on March 13, 2013, when Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected and introduced to the world as Pope Francis.

(Sources: AP, Reuters)

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