INTERESTING FACTS
Do we have a new pope?
Look for white smoke and you'll know!
The world watches with eager anticipation.
But how will we know when a new pope has been chosen? For us modern Catholics, the answer seems obvious: a news alert, a tweet, a livestream notification. We expect to know almost instantly.
That wasn’t always the case. In earlier centuries, Catholics sometimes had to wait days—or even weeks—for the news to reach them. But the Church, ever creative, sought a way to let her children know as quickly as possible that a new shepherd had been chosen.
The solution? A signal that would rise high above the Sistine Chapel and tell the world: Habemus Papam—we have a pope.
Thus began the tradition of the white smoke, a signal still used today, and one that we now await with great expectation.
As we wait, let’s dive into the fascinating history behind this simple, powerful sign.
The air in St. Peter’s Square was damp with winter chill. Hundreds of Romans gathered silently beneath the shadow of the basilica, their eyes fixed on the modest chimney that crowned the Sistine Chapel. For centuries, they had waited blindly during conclaves, relying only on tolling bells or word of mouth to learn of a new pontiff.
But today was different.
For the first time in history, Vatican officials had arranged for a signal to reach the people instantly: smoke. Dark smoke would mean “no decision.” But white smoke—a clear, clean puff—would proclaim to the world: We have a pope.
The crowd murmured as the chimney exhaled a faint wisp. It was dark at first—then lighter. A collective breath was held. And then, unmistakably, a pure white cloud billowed up and drifted into the Roman sky.
Cheers erupted. “Habemus Papam!” someone cried, even before the official announcement. Children were lifted onto shoulders, old women crossed themselves, and church bells began to toll.
Inside, the cardinals had elected Gioacchino Pecci, who would become Pope Leo XIII. But outside, the people had already known. For the first time, the Holy Spirit’s whisper had taken the form of white smoke, a visible grace in the sky.
Since that pivotal conclave in 1878, white smoke (fumata bianca) has become one of the most iconic and eagerly awaited symbols in the Catholic world. It signals that the cardinals, gathered in secret within the Sistine Chapel, have chosen a new successor to St. Peter.
But the tradition hasn't always been perfectly clear.
In 1958, during the conclave that elected Pope John XXIII, smoke appeared white—prompting cheers and news reports that a pope had been chosen. But the smoke later darkened. It turned out to be a false alarm, caused by damp materials and incomplete combustion.
Again in 2005, just before Pope Benedict XVI was elected, an ambiguous puff caused a stir in the square. White or black? No one was sure—until the bells of St. Peter's rang to confirm a successful election.
To end the confusion, starting in 2005 the Vatican began adding specific chemical compounds to ensure clarity:
Black smoke is produced using potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur.
White smoke comes from burning potassium chlorate, lactose, and pine resin.
No longer left to guess, the faithful now watch with certainty for that billowing white sign—and for the joy that follows: Habemus Papam. It's a wonderful time to be Catholic!