The White Smoke That Announces the Pope Isn’t Always Foolproof. The Church Refuses to Modernize It

On Oct. 26, 1958, a bizarre incident occurred in the Vatican. That morning, clear white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, causing the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square to erupt in jubilation. In the end, white smoke is used to announce the election of a new pope.

However, moments later, the smoke turned dark, leaving faces filled with disbelief. This confusion highlighted the need for clearer signals and not leaving everything solely in the hands of the Holy Spirit.

A choice between the human and the divine. When the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave, they invoke the Holy Spirit by chanting Veni Creator Spiritus. The ancient prayer captures the tension between human reason and spiritual discernment. In Catholic theology, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and is regarded as the true guide in the process of choosing a new pope.

While the election of the pope involves politics, strategy, and human relations, it’s also framed as a collaboration with the divine. Some describe the Holy Spirit as a silent presence that guides rather than imposes. Pope Benedict XVI said that it acts as a “good educator” who inspires but doesn’t make the final decision.

This essence remains in the final announcement of the new pope through white smoke. One thing is clear: The Church rejects any mechanization of this moment.

The conclave that confused everyone. As mentioned earlier, in the 1958 conclave to elect Pope Pius XII’s successor, smoke appeared clearly white. The crowd in St. Peter’s Square cheered, and some media outlets even announced the election.

However, minutes turned into hours without an official announcement or the appearance of the new pontiff. Eventually, the Vatican clarified that it had been a mistake. The white smoke resulted from incomplete combustion or a miscalculated mixture, and in fact, the necessary consensus for electing a pope hadn’t been reached yet.

This incident made it clear that improvements were needed, prompting the Vatican to implement changes over time. For instance, in 2005, the Church introduced the ringing of bells to confirm the election.

The language of smoke. Part of the ritual when the Catholic Church elects a new pope involves millions of people watching the small chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, waiting for a signal. Black smoke means there’s no agreement, while white smoke indicates that a successor has been elected. What seems like a simple symbolic gesture is, in fact, a highly precise operation filled with engineering, chemistry, symbolism, and tradition.

The practice of burning ballots and using smoke as a form of communication dates back to the 15th century. At that time, the Church sought a method to convey the election result to the outside world without compromising the secrecy of the conclave. The image of smoke ascending to heaven evokes ancient religious and biblical rites, where smoke was viewed as a spiritual bridge between humanity and the divine.

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Preparations and technology. Following Pope Francis’ death, the Vatican confirmed that the conclave would begin on May 7 with a special Mass in St. Peter’s, followed by secret voting in the Sistine Chapel. Two stoves have been installed: one for burning the ballots and the other for generating smoke that’s visible from outside.

These stoves are connected by a metal conduit, meticulously assembled and inserted by technicians who ensure that the Renaissance structure of the chapel remains undamaged. Each pipe joint is sealed, and smoke tests are conducted in advance. Firefighters are also on standby in case of any technical failures.

Everything must function flawlessly. A leak or ambiguous signal could turn the liturgical act into a global crisis broadcast live. The 1958 conclave serves as a reminder of the importance of precision in this process.

The chemistry of the message. To ensure that the world can clearly see what’s happening inside the conclave, the smoke isn’t solely the result of burning ballots. According to the BBC, packaged and electronically activated chemical compounds are used for this purpose. Black smoke is produced by mixing potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur, while white smoke is created using potassium chlorate, lactose, and pine resin.

In the past, attempts to produce smoke using wet and dry straw were inconsistent. Since 2005, the Vatican has also rung the bells of St. Peter’s to visually and audibly confirm the election of a new pontiff, helping to avoid confusion that occurred in earlier years.

Refusal to modernize. The system could be much simpler if the Church decided to embrace some of the newer technologies. Despite advances and suggestions for implementing colored lights, digital alerts, and more modern electronic systems, the Vatican remains committed to maintaining the traditional ritual.

From the Vatican’s perspective, it’s not merely about conveying news but about preserving a liturgical experience imbued with deep theological significance. Historian Candida Moss explains that the smoke serves to inform and engage the faithful in the mystery of the moment. This allows them to feel part of a transcendental moment in the history of the Church.

The papal election isn’t only an administrative event. It’s a ceremony rich with centuries of faith, solemnity, and spiritual continuity.

Images | Fabio Fistarol | David Lees

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