Papal conclave ballots have been burned to maintain secrecy for centuries. Ballot smoke has been used to announce a decision since 1914.

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VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Roman Catholic cardinals will begin ... Black smoke from a chimney on the roof of the chapel will mark an inconclusive vote, while white smoke and the peeling of bells will ...

On the afternoon of Thursday, May 8, white smoke from the Sistine Chapel's chimney billowed into the sky, prompting waves of ...

Experts say the process requires "two custom fireworks", smoke test rehearsals and Vatican firefighters on standby.

clearly visible from St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. It will release a plume of white smoke if a pope has been chosen, and black smoke if no candidate has won the required two-thirds ...

After two days of contemplation and balloting, a new Pope has been elected. White smoke emanating from the Sistine Chapel ...

It wasn’t clear whether grey smoke was closer to black or white, for example. By the 1970s, the straw method had been abandoned in favour of more controllable chemical mixtures .

What does white smoke coming out of the Vatican mean? White smoke coming out of the Vatican chimney means a new pope was selected and received enough votes during the Papal Conclave. For white ...

The pontiff’s identity will be known shortly, when he appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.