Preparations for one of the Catholic Church’s most solemn and historic rites are officially underway, as Vatican workers on Friday morning installed the iconic chimney atop the Sistine Chapel in advance of the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope.
The move comes just days after the funeral of Pope Francis, whose passing has ushered in a new period of reflection and anticipation for the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.
According to photos and video captured by media, the rust-colored chimney pipe was hoisted onto the roof of the Sistine Chapel early Friday, visible from St. Peter’s Square where thousands are expected to gather in the coming days.
The chimney, a centuries-old symbol of papal transition, will soon emit the telltale smoke signals—black or white—that indicate the results of the secretive voting process carried out by the College of Cardinals.
Black smoke signals an inconclusive vote, while white smoke proclaims the election of a new pope.
The conclave is set to begin on Tuesday, May 7, with cardinals from around the world arriving in Rome to participate in the closed-door proceedings.
The installation of the chimney marks a significant logistical and symbolic step in the lead-up to the conclave, which traditionally takes place within the Sistine Chapel under the watchful gaze of Michelangelo’s frescoes.
As anticipation builds, the eyes of the faithful and curious alike are turning once again to the skies above the Vatican—waiting for a plume of white smoke to announce the dawn of a new papacy.