Vatican reveals smoke-signal components

The Vatican is revealing what the smoke signals emerging from the Sistine Chapel chimney are made of, after the stir caused by how much more distinct the black smoke in this conclave has been compared to the past.

The Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi said the black smoke that came Tuesday and Wednesday — indicating a pope had not been elected — was made by adding cartridges containing potassium perchlorate, anthracene (a component of coal tar), and sulphur to the burned ballots.

The white smoke signalling a pope has been elected is produced by potassium chlorate, lactose and chloroform resin.The Vatican is burning the flares following confusion in past conclaves about smoke colour. Lombardi said that neither the chapel frescoes nor the cardinals inside suffered from the smoke.

No pope yet

Black smoke poured out of the chimney above the Sistene Chapel today, signalling that the first vote for a new pope did not succeed in settling on a new pontiff.Few expected the first vote to determine the next pope and the black smoke was not a surprise. The next vote by the Catholic cardinals is expected to be held on Wednesday.
The cardinals retreated to the Sistene Chapel in a choreagraphed procession with the 115 cardinals eligible to vote marching in two by two while singing prayers. They were dressed in white robes with short red capes and red caps known as birettas as they complied with the ancient rituals of the church and settled into assigned seats beneath the world famous frescoes created by Michelangelo for the papal conclave.The cardinals read the secrecy oath in unison, and then came forward to individually to put their hands on the Gospels and repeat an oath of secrecy ending with the words, "the holy word of God which I touch with my hand."