Saturday, April 16, 2005
Sistine Chapel Chimney Erected
In preparation for the start of the conclave, workers at the Vatican have attached to the roof of the Sistine Chapel the chimney pipe that the world will watch anxiously beginning Monday. The smoke that comes from the chimney will signal the end of each balloting session by the College of Cardinals, when the ballots themselves are thrown into the fireplace within the chapel. Black smoke rising from the chimney indicates that the vote did not result in an election; but when white smoke puffs out, the world will know that a new Pope has been elected.
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7 comments:
does anyone know what time the first ballot is?
Apparently they first gather at 4.30pm Rome time to decide whether or not a ballot will be held today.
The cardinals enter St. Peter's at 4:30 PM Rome time after spending the better part of the day in Mass and prayer. There may be a vote Monday evening. Joaquin Navarro-Walls said to look for the smoke at approximately noon for the morning sessions and approximately 7 for the evening sessions...that would put it at 6 AM and 1 PM Eastern Standard Time.
Chimney shmimney. What I want to know is, why hasn't anybody set up a webcam on the chimney yet?
Vatican Television Center
Centro Televisivo Vaticano has a live transmission of St. Peter's Square. If you watch it, the Sistine Chapel will be on the upper right.
I've been closely monitoring the rise and fall of the papabili at my own blog, The Reaction:
www.the-reaction.blogspot.com
In my most recent post, I make a case for Tettamanzi as the likely choice.
Thanks for this most interesting and insightful blog. I read it regularly.
Does anyone know what makes the smoke white, instead of black? What's burning if only white smoke comes out?
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