All eyes on Sistine Chapel as papal ballot smoke stack goes up

With the world watching and the Catholic Church poised for a major transition, the Vatican has taken a symbolic step forward: on May 2, workers hoisted the chimney onto the roof of the Sistine Chapel—the very one that will send smoke signals to the world during next week’s conclave to elect a new pope.

Set to begin on May 7, the highly secretive gathering of cardinal-electors will take place behind closed doors, with 1.4 billion Catholics awaiting word on the identity of their next spiritual leader, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The chimney will serve its famous role: black smoke rising from its pipe will mean no decision has been made; white smoke will signal that the Church has chosen its 267th pope.

The rust-colored flue, fixed above the terracotta roof tiles of the 15th-century Sistine Chapel, renowned for its Michelangelo-painted ceiling, is now in place. It stands in clear view of St. Peter’s Square, where thousands of faithful and curious onlookers are expected to gather each day of the conclave, eyes fixed on the rooftop for a signal from within.

This conclave follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21, ending a historic papacy that began in 2013 with the election of the first pope from the Americas. Now, 133 cardinals, nearly 80 per cent of whom were appointed by Francis himself, are expected to cast their votes for his successor.

History suggests a relatively swift outcome: the last two conclaves, in 2005 and 2013, each concluded within two days of voting. Whether this conclave follows suit remains to be seen, but for now, the stage is set, the chimney is ready, and the world is watching for the next puff of white smoke.

By Tamilla Hasanova