Vatican City, 15th April 2005 (CNA)
- This Thursday workers at the Vatican
finished installing the chimney in the Sistine
Chapel that will send the famous black or white
smoke into the air, announcing the election of a
new Pope or the continuation of voting in the
Conclave that will begin on Monday.
Workers first cleaned the ducts of the
stove where the ballots cast by cardinal electors
are burned, sending out white smoke if a Pope is
elected, and black smoke if the vote was
inconclusive.
The stove is same one used almost 27 years
ago to announce the election of Pope John Paul
II.
However, in addition to cleaning the ducts
and installing the chimney that will protrude
above the roof of the Sistine Chapel, modern
science will also ensure the proper results are
conveyed: chemicals will be used to ensure the
black smoke is truly black and the white smoke is
indistinguishably white.
On Friday, a group of journalists chosen by
lot will be allowed to visit the Sistine Chapel,
which has now been prepared for the opening of the
Conclave.
