Vatican details how new smoke signals are produced

Vatican City, Mar 12, 2013 / 05:19 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Varying chemical compounds have replaced wet straw and pitch to produce the Vatican smoke signal that is used to communicate the result of conclave voting sessions.

Fr. Thomas Rosica, assistant to the Vatican press office director, explained that since 2005 the Vatican has used chemical compounds to better communicate the result of the conclave.

“For a Church that has made much progress in the area of modern communications, computer technology, Internet and Twitter, the conclave still relies on smoke signals to let the world know of its results,” he said in a March 11 statement to the press.

In the past, wet straw was used to create the white smoke, while pitch – a tar-like substance – was used to create black smoke.

Due to a number of “false alarms” in the past, Fr. Rosica explained, the Vatican has sought the help of “modern chemistry” to produce more easily distinguishable shades of smoke.

Now, the black smoke is produced by a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulphur, while the white smoke is made by burning a mixture of potassium chlorate, lactose, and rosin – a natural amber resin.

A traditional stove inside the Sistine Chapel is used to burn the ballots following a voting session, while a separate stove that sits alongside it helps produce the distinctive black or white smoke.

Depending on the result of the vote, an electronic control panel is used to request chemical compounds that have been pre-mixed by Vatican technicians which will then produce either shade of smoke.

Although two separate units are used to create the smoke, the plume comes out of one chimney by the time it emerges above the Sistine Chapel. The smoke stack is pre-heated and contains a backup fan to help ventilation if necessary.

Black smoke, as was seen at 7:42 p.m. Rome time March 12, indicates a failed conclave. By contrast, white smoke accompanied by the ringing of the Vatican bells will signal that a new Pope has been selected.

I’m really curious how they make the coffee in the Vatican. Could you post something about that? What do they use to wax the floors. What brand of air fresheners do they use in the Vatican bathrooms?

I am truly sorry that some ‘group’ has not picked up on the fact that ‘Black Smoke’ is NOT a good thing.

Isn’t it some kind of Racist?

Apparently it is Sexist because no Women are on the selection committee?

What are we doing here, having the Rome segment of American Idol?

I guess we can add ‘White Traditionalist’ to the ‘Hate Groups of America/World’ while we are at ‘it’, may as well P & Moan there are no Openly Gays, Pedophiles etc in attendance, but- then again - we will get the ‘Oh they are there, you just can’t see them’ crowd rising in their defense.

burning a mixture of ******potassium chlorate*******, lactose, and rosin – a natural amber resin.

Gasp! I could make a BOMB WITH THAT! With table sugar I could make GUNPOWDER!

Where are the environmentalists...doesn't this smoke laced with these chemicals kill the ozone layer, cause the polar bears to die and raise sea levels enough to flood Al Gore's seaside mansion???? I am surprised that the dome of St. Peter's isn't flanked by huge windmills as minarets for the Church of the Global Warming.

Learn the facts:

Vatican details how new smoke signals are produced
All Eyes Turn To Sistine Chapel’s Chimney During Papal Conclave ["Trancelike" Experience!]
Cardinal Sodano and the new world order
Letter #42: Alpha and Omega (Benedict XVI and a prediction on how the conclave will vote)
The rites for the Conclave begin: The entrance procession of the Cardinal Electors (Pix)
"Extra Omnes." But Michelangelo Will Be Voting, Too
Every cardinal in his place: Internal ranking determines seating chart
10 things about the conclave

In a hurry to take things slowly: How Italian culture could shape the conclave
New Pope Will Have Adoration Before His Presentation
From Rome to Africa: Meet the 20 men who could be pope
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The rites for the Conclave begin: Mass for electing a Supreme Pontiff
The ‘tough guy’ option: Picking a pope to serve as sheriff
The Next Pope and the Jews
Why we need a badass pope
The schedule for the conclave (with U.S. times)
Age matters: Popes elected as young as 24, as old as 81 (Papal Trivia!)

What This Protestant Pastor Would Like to See in the New Pope
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The springtime has failed, the time has come for the sowing season
Why is Cardinal Mahony Voting in the Conclave?
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Press Coverage on the Eve of the Conclave
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Top Contenders To Be The Next Pope
Day Six: Timeless Skies – and Electoral Blocs
Dare we hope for Burke?
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Cardinal Dolan eager for conclave to start
A few “bloopers” (Cardinal Dolan addresses misunderstandings about the papacy)
The men who could be pope: Cardinal Leonardo Sandri (A diplomat who tames enemies)
The men who could be pope: Cardinal Seán O’Malley (The Capuchin with a gentle heart)
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An Illustrated Guide to the Conclave (how the entire process works)

The lesson of Sistine Chapel (What the Cardinals electors will see when they enter the Conclave)
Letter #39: 48 Hours To Go (until the Conclave)
The men who could be pope: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle
The men who could be pope: Cardinal Timothy Dolan
The men who could be pope: Cardinal Peter Turkson
The men who could be pope: Cardinal Angelo Scola
Conclave: timetable for first days
Day Four: The Great Game Begins (Daily Conclave Report)
What have the cardinals been doing? One of them explains
BREAKING NEWS: Cardinals select Tuesday, March 12 for conclave

Inside the Conclave: A Visual Chart
You’ve heard about Pope on a rope — how about a cardinal on a bike?
Where cardinals will stay during Conclave
Letter #37: A Living Stone
Conclave date to be announced after 7 pm local time
Is this Cardinal, Pope Emeritus Benedict's candidate to be his successor
Cardinal plotting anti-Ratzinger progressive Papacy
Vatican post office sells over 150k Vacant See sets
General congregations: With all electors present still no date for Conclave
LA's Cardinal Mahony tweets: We're close to setting conclave date

Patriarch Raï: The Conclave from a Middle Eastern perspective
Curia silences U.S. cardinals: “You talk too much”
Little-known Facts about a Papal Conclave
Filipino Cardinal Stirs Papal Talk With Rapid Rise
Letter #36: Silence (victory for the “old guard” of the Vatican)
General congregations: Profile of future Pope emerging from sessions
Cardinals contemplate insider, outsider papal candidates
College of Cardinals imposes media silence after breach
Last Two Cardinal Electors Will be in Rome by Thursday
Letter #33: Sistine Chapel Closed (approx 5 days for workers to prepare for conclave)

Pope Prediction: 10 Reasons Cardinal Burke Will Be the Next Pope
Popeless but not Hopeless
Election of Pope Trivia Quiz
Black Socialist Pope to Follow Black Socialist President?
Pope watchers keeping tabs on Vatican 'backroom boys'
Catholicism, True Reform and the Next Pope
Cardinals announce adoration, Vespers ceremony for conclave
When Will the Conclave Start? Pope Benedict's Final Legislative Act
Vatican Diary / The "who's who" of the new pope's electors (broken down by continent)
Letter #31: The Program, and the Sheriff (Mahony, Sandri, Anti-Pope)

Famous last tweets before cardinals enter media blackout of conclave
Cardinal O'Malley lists sex abuse, Curia reform as priorities
Old establishment cardinals hope for quick conclave
Cardinals Begin Pre-Conclave Meetings Amid Scandal
Lombardi: 12 Cardinal electors yet to arrive as 1st Congregation concludes
A ticket to vote for the first Latin-American Pope
Three candidates for Pope who are on few people's lists
Omens and portents and signs! OH MY! (minor earthquake near Castel Gandolfo)
‘Church changing big time,’ says Cardinal Dolan
Letter #30: The Next and the Last (media, papabili, Ganswein in tears)

Editorial: "Religious correspondents", "Vaticanists": don't know more about Conclave than us
During “Sede Vacante” what must priests say in the Eucharistic Prayer now that there is no Pope?
What is a [Catholic] Cardinal? A Basic Review of the College of Cardinals in History and Today
Benedict XVI's first night as Pope emeritus
Toward the Conclave. The Pressure on the Cardinals [Catholic Caucus]
Papal Apartments, Basilica Sealed for Sede Vacante
Update on Conclave Start Date
Cardinal Dolan: Pope Benedict 'fragile' on last day of papacy (good handling of msm)
Prayer for the Election of a New Pope
Interregnum Terms and Expressions, Q and A Format (Nuts & Bolts-current situation) [Catholic Caucus]

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