Papal conclave live: White or black smoke from Sistine Chapel chimney?
· France 24The "princes" of the Catholic Church are sequestered behind the Vatican’s medieval walls for the duration of a conclave to elect the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, a successor to Pope Francis who died last month at the age of 88.
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The 133 cardinals from 70 countries vote in secret and silence until they agree on a leader for the 1.4 billion-strong Church. Twice a day, after two rounds of voting, cardinals then burn their ballots, adding a chemical to turn the smoke white if a pope is elected, or otherswise black.
Cardinal electors are sworn to secrecy about the centuries-old process under threat of excommunication.
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