Chimney installed on Sistine Chapel to announce election of new pope

Preparations for the upcoming papal conclave moved forward Friday as workers installed a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, which will signal the election results to the world once the voting begins on May 7.

The conclave, convened after the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at age 88, will bring together 133 eligible cardinals — those under the age of 80 — to elect a new leader for the Catholic Church.

Voting will take place in the Sistine Chapel behind closed doors. The outcome will be communicated through the iconic chimney: white smoke will indicate a successful election of a new pope, while black smoke will signal that no decision has been reached.

On the opening day of the conclave, cardinals will cast a single ballot. In subsequent days, they will hold two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon. A candidate must secure a two-thirds majority — at least 89 votes — to be elected.

If no pope is chosen in the first morning vote, a second ballot will follow before the votes are burned in a specially designed stove connected to the chimney. Chemicals are added to produce white smoke when a pope has been elected; otherwise, the smoke remains black. The same procedure is repeated during the afternoon session.

(AFP)