If the smoke is black, the cardinals have failed to reach a decision. White smoke signifies a new pope has been chosen. The small group of cardinals who form the conclave which selects the next ...

The conclave, shrouded in centuries-old tradition and secrecy, stands as one of the most captivating rituals in the Catholic ...

and then burned with a chemical to send either black smoke, meaning a stalemate, or white, signifying "habemus papam" − "we ...

We can't get into the Sistine Chapel, but we'll know whether there's a new pope simply by watching the smoke that comes from the Vatican's rooftop. Ballots are burned after the votes, once in the ...