VATICAN CITY, April 15: Vatican workers hoisted a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel on Friday as preparations got under way for the conclave of cardinals to elect a successor to Pope John Paul. From the first day of the conclave on Monday, the rust-coloured pipe fixed to an outlet among the terracotta tiles of the roof will be the most watched chimney in the world.
From the chimney will come the smoke to tell those waiting in St Peter’s Square and beyond whether the Roman Catholic Church’s most senior clerics have chosen a new pope.
It has been 26 years since the last conclave which elected John Paul II, so the technicians could be excused for taking much longer than expected to secure the chimney to the roof of the Renaissance Chapel nestling next to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Cameramen and photographers, attracting some of the thousands of faithful and tourists queuing to see the tomb of the late Polish Pontiff, crowded around the ancient obelisk in the middle of the square as word went round that the Vatican was going to hold a smoke test-run.
“Contrary to what someone has said, there’ll be no testing of the smoke this afternoon,” said Vatican chief spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.
The churchmen will hold two daily balloting sessions — each with two votes. If the necessary majority has not been reached, the ballots are placed in a stove and burned with an additive to produce black smoke. If a pope has been elected, they are burned with an additive to produce white smoke.
In a 1978 conclave the smoke came out grey so the Vatican said this time the Basilica bells will ring out to accompany the white smoke.
GUESSING GAME: As the start of the first conclave of the 21st century approached, most of the world’s cardinals had arrived in Rome — the 115 eligible to elect the next pontiff and others over the age of 80. Pope John Paul brought in reforms barring those over 80 from taking part in the conclave.
Various priests and staff assisting the cardinals swore an oath of secrecy on Friday, pledging not to breathe a word of the proceedings once the conclave begins.
Those who break the rules could face the Catholic Church’s ultimate punishment — excommunication.
All but two of the cardinal electors were appointed by the late Pope—Reuters
