A change in popes — through death or resignation — is a complicated process, with centuries-old rituals involving the transition in leadership for both the spiritual head of the global ...

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VATICAN CITY — The death of a pope starts a centuries-old ritual involving sacred oaths by the cardinals electing a successor, the piercing of ballots with a needle and thread after they're ...

The famous ‘white smoke’ is created using a mixture of potassium chlorate, lactose and a pine resin, also known as Greek pitch.

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The conclave used a combination of potassium chlorate, lactose, and chloroform resin to create the white smoke. The black and white smoke comes from a cast-iron stove inside the Sistine Chapel.

If a two-thirds majority is reached, the ballots are burned with potassium chlorate, lactose and rosin. The resultant white smoke signals “Habemus papam,” Latin for “We have a Pope.” ...