Different chemicals are used to change the colour of the smoke (see graphic). And from 2005, the bells of St Peter’s Basilica also ring to announce that there is a new pope, just in case the ...

Sending messages with smoke. Smoke signals are one of the oldest forms of long-distance communication between humans. For millennia, smoke signals have been used to indicate danger, to call for a ...

Black smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the cardinals' conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

After just four votes, white smoke has been seen billowing from the Sistine Chapel's chimney, meaning a new pope has been elected. We don't yet know who has won the vote with the new pontiff, but ...

This story has been updated. The Catholic Church and its approximately 1.4 billion followers have a new leader and the first American pope. At 6:06 p.m. Rome time Thursday, May 8, white smoke ...