Rather than soot, the smoke contains microscopic droplets and fine solids that are transparent or white. The result is a ...

The papal conclave smoke signal has evolved from an incidental byproduct of burning ballots into a carefully engineered communication tool ...

Here's how the conclave creates black and white smoke and why the Catholic Church began using them to signal whether a new ...

White smoke was seen emerging from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel. This means a new pontiff has been elected on the ...

For white smoke, a compound of the chemicals potassium chlorate, lactose, and rosin (also known as Greek pitch) is used, ...

As the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis begins, cardinals will be voting multiple times per day until a ...

The use of chemicals to ensure either black or white smoke was introduced after the 1958 conclave when damp straw added to papers from an unsuccessful ballot did not ignite at first. White smoke ...

A new pontiff has been selected on the second day of the conclave. The signal was met with an eruption of cheers from the ...

For much of the past century, the conclave has needed between three and 14 ballots to find a pope. John Paul I—the pope who ...

White smoke billowed over the Vatican on the first full day of voting, but this was not quite the fastest conclave in history ...

At the end of each voting round, black smoke means a new pope has not yet to be selected, while white smoke indicates a new ...

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A change in popes — through death or resignation — is a complicated process, with centuries-old rituals ...