Between bell repiques, the smoke that rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel reveals the world the Result of each conclave round. The color of the smoked “Blanca or black,” not only communicates a decision, but also contains centuries of tradition.
With the beginning of the conclave, all eyes are concentrated in Rome, where it will be announced, through smoke, whether or not the cardinals reached a consensus. The results of the first round were revealed this Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. in Rome (13.00 in Guatemala). The black smoke confirmed that there was no agreement.
Therefore, this Thursday, May 8, the 133 Cardinals Electores, Among them the Guatemalan Álvaro Ramazzinithey must re -enter the Sistine Chapel to continue with the choice of Pedro’s successor.
White or Black Small: The Language of Smoke
The smoke will continue to be the protagonist in the next few days, until a consensus is reached. This practice, used by the Holy See since the nineteenth century, consists in burning the voting ballots in a special fireplace, without revealing names or details of the process.
When the smoke that emerges is black, it means that Pope has not chosen. If it is Blanco, it indicates that one of the candidates has reached the necessary two thirds of the votes and has accepted the position.
According to Catholic News Agency, the votes of the two rounds of the morning or in the afternoon are burned, along with chemical compounds that determine the color of the smoke. Black smoke occurs with a mixture of potassium, anthracene and sulfur perchlorate. For white smoke, potassium, lactose and amber conifer resin is used.
The implementation of these products responds to the need to achieve a clear signal for the faithful, after gray smoke generated confusion in the past. This technique is applied since 1939, with the choice of Pius XII, and was last modified in 2005 with the incorporation of a second stove.
THE CONCLAVE PROCESS 202
Every day of choice, The 133 cardinals enter the Sistine Chapelwhere the doors close and formally start the process. Once inside, the head of the conclave pronounces the order Extra omnes (Everyone outside!), To expel every foreign person. Only the voters remain, who lend an oath of secret and commitment.
On each day, six cardinals are chosen to supervise the process: three as voters of votes and three as scrutineers. Each voter is given a ballot with the phrase in Latin: I choose as a great pontiff to …where he writes the name of the candidate.
When depositing the vote in the urn, each cardinal pronounces:
I witness Christ Lord, who will judge me, that I give my vote to whom, in the presence of God, I think it must be chosen.
Once the count is finished, it is verified if any of the names obtained the required majority. This depends on the color of the smoke that will announce the result to the world.
The white smoke issued by fumarola in the sky of Rome will announce the choice of 267. Pontiff of the Catholic Church. (Photo: Free Press / EFE)
What happens if there is no choice?
If Pope is not chosen on the first day, from the second they are held to four daily votes: two in the morning and two in the afternoon. If, after three consecutive days, there is no consensus, a day of prayer and reflection is ordered.
After 33 rounds, if the lack of agreement persists, the vote is restricted to the two most voted cardinals in the last round. If one of them reaches the required majority and accepts the position, It will be proclaimed potato.
The smoked Blanca that arises from the Sistine Chapel will announce to the world that a new Pontiff has been chosen.
Recommended reading: Habemus Papam: What is it, who says it, when it is pronounced and why.