The doors close on around 120 cardinals under the age of 80 inside the Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina) as they begin the process of electing a new pope.
The cardinals gather no later than 15 to 20 days after the pope’s death. They take an oath to keep the deliberations and voting strictly confidential, and are completely prohibited from using mobile phones or communicating with the outside world.
The word “conclave” comes from the Latin phrase meaning “with a key” or “under lock and key.” The tradition dates back to 1274, when the lengthy process of a previous papal election — which had lasted three years prompted efforts to ensure that future elections would be completed more quickly.
If a candidate receives a two-thirds majority, the famous white smoke rises from the chimney, while the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica ring out to announce the election of the new pope. If no candidate reaches the required majority, black smoke signals that voting will continue.
The color of the smoke white or black is produced by burning the ballots along with specially designated chemicals to ensure a clear and unmistakable signal. This was introduced to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2005, when gray smoke caused confusion among those waiting outside as Pope Benedict XVI was elected.
