When the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel spouts white smoke, it means that the Catholic Church officially has a new pope.

In the coming days plumes of black or white smoke will rise from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel, signaling the voting at ...

And once the election process for a new pope begins, gatherers will turn upward each day, waiting for black or white smoke to fill the sky. Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21. He was 88 years ...

Modern science has stepped in to ensure the clarity of the signal, using specific chemical mixtures to produce unambiguous black or white smoke. This blend of tradition and technology allows the ...