The sight of the smoke tells all outside that no decision ... The most secret of ballots When a pope dies, the world’s cardinals gather to select a new pontiff. The electors arrive for the ...

When a pope dies, the cardinal camerlengo – the chief ... The ballots are then burned, with white smoke indicating a successful election and black smoke signalling no decision.

When a pope dies, or more rarely resigns (Francis's direct predecessor ... Each time no candidate achieves this, the ballots are burnt in chemicals that produce black smoke. When a candidate is chosen ...