How to make the Vatican smoke signal

When the Catholic Church elects a new Pope, the world does not monitor a press conference or a social media, but because of the smoke from a small chimney over the Church of Sistin.

If the smoke is black, no new door will be chosen. If it is white, a decision has been taken: We have the Pope – We have the Pope. It is a high drama, a live broadcast of millions.

But what the viewers do not see is the hidden complexity of the rituals for centuries: the chimney that was carefully built, the engineer and the fine chemical recipes, each part is carefully designed to ensure that there is a capacity of smoke a clear message.

The BBC experts told that the operation requires “custom fireworks”, smoke test proofs and Vatican firefighters on the preparation mode. It is accurately organized by a team of engineers and church officials who work in complete harmony.

Pope Francis died on Easter on Monday, 88 years old, and with the end of the funeral now, attention has turned into Conclave – a special meeting through which the new Pope will be chosen.

The Vatican confirmed that the Cardinacle will meet in the Church of St. Peter on May 7 to celebrate a special mass before the gathering inside the Sistin Church, The complex vote will begin.

The tradition of burning the paper polling leaves of the Cardrob is due to the fifteenth century and has become part of the delivery rituals aimed at ensuring transparency and preventing absurdity, especially after the delays of the previous papal elections that led to general frustration and disturbances.

Over time, the Vatican began using smoke as a way to communicate with the outside world while maintaining strict secrecy of the vote.

Today, despite countless progress in communication, the Vatican chose to maintain imitation.

“From ancient times ascending, people watched the increasing smoke – from the sacrifices of animals and grains in the Bible, or burning incense in traditions – as a form of human communication with the divine.”

“In the Catholic traditions, prayers are ascended to God. The use of smoke raises these religious rituals, the aesthetics of wonders and mystery that accompany them.”

Professor Moss also says that rising smoke allows people who gather in Saint Peter’s Square “to feel listed – as if they were combined in this mysterious and secret issue.”

The reasons are symbolic, but made it work in the twenty -first century requires real engineering.

Inside the Sistin Church, two temporary touches are installed specifically for the sensors: one to burn sounds, and the other to generate smoke signals.

Both times are connected to small chimneys – A tube inside a chimney that allows smoke to escape – which leads across the church roof outside. On Friday, extinguishing kits were seen on the roof, carefully insurance to the top of the chimneys in place, while workers set up the scaffolding and made fireplaces at home.

The Sistin Church, which was built more than 500 years ago, is home to one of the most famous ceilings in the world. Decorated with a girl in Michelangelo, she is not completely designed for smoke signals, and chimneys should be brightly and safely installed.

It is a complex process. Technicians use either an existing opening or create a temporary opening through which chimneys – made of metal such as iron or steel – are inserted. The tubes extend from the stoves out, and it appears through the tiled ceiling over the square of St. Peter.

Each joint is sealed to prevent leaks and each component is tested. Smoking tests are trained in the days before the start of the side, ensuring that the chimney clouds work in actual time. Even the Vatican firefighters are involved; Prepare in a malfunction.

“This is an accurate process because if something wrong occurs, this is not just a technical failure – it becomes an international incident,” said Kevin Farlam, the structural engineer who worked on the heritage characteristics. “It is not similar to placing a tube on the pizza oven. Each part of the system should be installed without damaging anything.”

This setting was built days before the arrival of the Cardinals and is dismantled as soon as the Pope is chosen.

To ensure that the signal is visible, the Vatican technicians use a group of chemical compounds.

“What they build mainly here is two designated fireworks.”

“For black smoke, a mixture of potassium, anthropology, and sulfur is burned – resulting in dark thick smoke.

“For white smoke, a mixture of potassium, lactose and pine chops is used, which burns clean and pale.

“In the past, they tried to burn the wet straw to create a darker smoke and a dry straw to make lighter smoke – but this caused some confusion because sometimes it looks gray.”

He explained that these chemicals are “pre -packed in cartridges and ignited electronically”, so there is no ambiguity.

The addition of the bell ring – which was presented during the election of Pope Benedict XVI – is now working as confirmation and is used along with the smoke signal.

Over the years, there have been suggestions to update the system: colored lights, digital alerts, or even televised sounds. But for the Vatican, the rituals are not just a communication tool – it is a moment of continuity with centuries of tradition.

Professor Moss said: “This is related to traditions and confidentiality, but he also has a real theological weight,” said Professor Moss.

“In addition to the” Catholic Church “and” cutting “away from synonyms – innovation is almost ritual.