STORY: :: A pyrotechnic expert explains how the black and white papal smoke signals are created
:: May 2, 2025
:: Rome, Italy
::Massimiliano De Sanctis, Fireworks expert
”During the conclave the cardinals will have at their disposal this electronic control unit and both black and white pyrotechnic cartridges, consisting of six smoke cartridges connected in series for the duration of seven minutes. Then after the vote the ballots will go into the old stove, from the old conclaves, and the smoke cartridge into the new stove that has been provided by the Vatican. Then the cardinal will press the ‘’on‘’ button and the effect will be either black or white, lasting about seven minutes.”
”If the pope is not elected the smoke is black and if the pope is elected, it is white.”
The conclave will begin on Wednesday (May 7), with the sequestered cardinals using a chimney built onto the roof of the chapel to tell the outside world whether or not they have chosen a new leader – black smoke signifying no decision and white smoke announcing a new pontiff.
De Sanctis is the owner of ‘’Fd Group Fireworks‘’ which supplied the smoke system during the conclaves that elected pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope Francis in 2013.
Two stoves will be installed and attached to a single flue leading up to the roof. One, made of cast iron and used in every conclave since 1939, will be used to burn ballots.
The second stove is an electronic one with a key, and a start button. Flares will be ignited inside it to send out either white or black smoke.
And although he will not be in charge of the supply of smoke for this conclave, De Sanctis joyfully recalls the two past conclaves.
”Providing the essential material for the election of the Pope was an immense joy and great satisfaction for us. Also because you do not elect a Pope every day”, ha said.
The last two conclaves, held in 2005 and 2013, wrapped up by the end of the second day of voting.
