Vatican
City, 12 March 2013
(VIS) – Beginning with the Conclave in 2005, in order to better
distinguish the colour of the “fumate” (smoke signalling the
election or non-election of a pontiff), a secondary apparatus is used
to generate the smoke in addition to the traditional stove in which
the Cardinal electors' ballots are burned. This device stands next to
the ballot-burning stove and has a compartment where, according to
the results of the vote, different coloured-smoke generating
compounds can be mixed. The result is requested by means of an
electronic control panel and lasts for several minutes while the
ballots are burning in the other stove.
For
a black “fumata” the chemical compound is made of potassium
perchlorate, anthracene, and sulphur. The white “fumata” is a
mixture of potassium chlorate, lactose, and rosin. The rosin is a
natural amber resin obtained from conifers. Prior to 2005 the black
smoke was obtained by using smoke black or pitch and the white smoke
by using wet straw.
The
stove-pipes of the stove and the smoke-producing device join up and
exit the roof of the Sistine Chapel as one pipe leading to the
chimney installed on the ridge of the roof, which is visible from St.
Peter's Square. To improve the airflow the pipe is pre-heated by
electrical resistance and it also has a backup fan.
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