How does the color of the smoke change from black to white when the Pope is chosen?

Answer 1

Roman Catholic AnswerThe smoke is from a small wood burning stove in the Sistine chapel. If the ballets to elect a new pope are incinclusive they are burned with wet straw and the smoke is black, if they are from a successful election of a new pope, they are burned alone and the smoke is white. There is no smoke when a pope dies, it is strictly for the election of a new pope.

Answer 2

The color of the smoke lets the people know when a Pope has been chosen. The cardinals conduct a secret ballot until someone receives two-thirds of the vote, plus one. After each vote, the ballets are burned with straw, creating the black smoke. The smoke turns white once a Pope has been chosen. It is unclear what is in the white smoke, but many believe a smoke cartridge is actually used for both black and white smoke.

Answer 3

There is no smoke for a dead pope. Instead, the Arco delle Campani of St. Peter's Basilica tolls the death knell and bells all over the city peel in sorrow at the news of the pope's death.

Answer 4

There is no smoke unless a ballot has taken place. Then it is black if no pope was elected, white if they have been successful.