Pope Mania in Italy

While the election of a new pope isn't all that breaking news in the U.S., here, it's all people have talked about after Pope Francis died on April 21. For Italians, the pope is not only a spiritual leader but also a global political influencer. Just like a political election, there are candidates who are more conservative, and others, more progressive. The chosen pope will have influence on millions for the duration of his term.

How the Pope Is Chosen

While it may seem like divine intervention—-or the world’s most mysterious hiring process—-the election of a new pope follows a centuries-old ritual called the Papal Conclave.

When the papacy becomes vacant, whether through death or resignation, all eligible cardinals under the age of 80 are summoned to Vatican City. These men, known as the College of Cardinals, gather in the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy to cast their votes.

The process begins with daily voting rounds, each consisting of two ballots in the morning and two in the afternoon. To be elected pope, a cardinal must receive a two-thirds majority vote. After each round, ballots are burned in a special stove inside the chapel (more on this in a minute).

Interestingly, the voting is not just a formality. Cardinals spend considerable time in prayer, reflection, and informal discussions before and during the conclave. They are not allowed any contact with the outside world: no phones, no internet, no carrier pigeons. Their sole focus is to discern who among them is best suited to lead the Catholic Church’s 1.3 billion followers worldwide.

When a cardinal reaches the required majority, the Dean of the College of Cardinals asks him if he accepts the role. If he says “yes,” he is immediately asked to choose his papal name. Shortly after, the newly elected pope appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver his first blessing, famously beginning with, “Habemus Papam,” Latin for “We have a pope!”

The Longest Papal Election in History

The longest conclave on record lasted nearly three years, from 1268 to 1271. After the death of Pope Clement IV, cardinals were bitterly divided, unable to agree on a successor.

The local authorities, understandably frustrated with the delay, eventually locked the cardinals in the palace, reduced their food rations, and even removed the roof to expose them to the elements, hoping to speed things up. Whether it was divine inspiration or sheer discomfort, the cardinals finally elected Pope Gregory X. This marathon conclave led to reforms aimed at preventing such prolonged indecision in the future, including the locked-door rule still used today.

The History of the Smoke

One of the most recognizable symbols of a papal election is the plume of smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney. But this tradition isn’t as ancient as you might think.

The practice of using smoke signals began in 1878, during the election of Pope Leo XIII. Before that, the public was left waiting for messengers or church bells to announce the results. The smoke provided a much more immediate—-and let’s be honest, dramatic-—update.

Here’s how it works: after each round of voting, the ballots are burned in a stove. Black smoke (fumata nera) means no pope has been chosen. White smoke (fumata bianca) signals that a new pope has been elected.

In earlier years, achieving the correct smoke color proved to be a bit... inconsistent. On more than one occasion, the smoke left the faithful guessing...was that white? Was it grey? Was it wishful thinking? To fix this, the Vatican began adding chemical compounds to ensure the smoke was unmistakably black or white.

Today, the white smoke is accompanied by the ringing of St. Peter’s Basilica bells, making it impossible to miss the moment…even for those following along from their couches on the other side of the globe.

Awaiting the News

My mother-in-law told me that they were watching a movie on television, and there was a small screen in the corner of the film that was recording the chimney at the Sistine Chapel. This way, people could go on watching whatever they wanted, and when the smoke turned white, they knew the pope had been elected.

This is such a difference from America! There certainly are more Italian Catholics than American, so it stands to reason that they'd be awaiting news of their new pope.

The news channels showed hours upon hours of footage of the thousands of people in Saint Peter's Square celebrating the news, the pope being...ordained? (not sure that's the word), and expert after expert talking about Pope Leo XIV.

The First American Pope

Honestly, I get teased and asked about the American President who shall not be named just about every day, so I was thrilled to hear that the pope chosen is American! Maybe he can counter the damage that's been done in the U.S. and give Italians something else to talk about!

Everyone's wishing me auguri for the new pope!

Robert Provost is the first pope from the United States, which feels particularly significant in today's political landscape. Already, people are excited to see how he will lead the church.

I'm no longer Catholic, but it's been interesting to see what a fondness Italians have for this figure.