Picking the pope: Smoke signaling to declare papal decision is complicated business
By Cheryl K. Chumley, The Washington Times
Catholic cardinals are under media lockdown, with communications to the outside world cut by an electronic shield, and the first indication they have made a decision on the replacement for Pope Benedict XVI will come old-world style: A smoke signal in the skies above the Vatican.
Over the weekend, workmen installed a pair of new stoves inside the chapel where the cardinals are meeting, CNN reports. One stove will burn up the ballots after the cardinals finish voting. And the other — this one sends a smoke signal into the sky to alert that a vote has gone forth.
Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi said in the CNN report that the cardinals are likely to vote Tuesday — but they aren’t bound by any rule to do so. If they do vote, watchers may see the first smoke signals around 3 p.m. Eastern Time, he said. And don’t expect any leaks: Shields are in place preventing cardinals from contacting the outside world with cell phones or other technological forms of communication.
Black smokes means the cardinals haven’t chosen. White smoke — or “fumata bianca” — tells the world a new pope has been picked. But as CBS reports, sending the right color signal can be tricky business.