Bells and Smoke: Ancient Rituals in Papal Death and Rebirth
When a pope dies or a new one is elected, the world’s first clues come not through modern media but via two age-old signals: the solemn tolling of bells and the billowing of smoke. These simple, powerful signs – the mournful peal that a pontiff has passed, and the iconic white smoke announcing Habemus Papam (“We have a Pope”) – are steeped in centuries of Catholic tradition. They harken back to an era before instant communication, yet even today they captivate global audiences and symbolize the continuity of the papacy. Recent events following the death of Pope Francis in 2025 have brought these rituals back into the spotlight, prompting a closer look at their historical origins, evolution, and enduring significance in modern times.
Tolling Bells: Announcing a Papal Death
The death of a pope sets in motion a carefully choreographed series of rituals refined over centuriespolitico.eu. One of the first and most audible signs is the tolling of church bells. In Vatican City, the great bell of St. Peter’s Basilica (known as campanone) rings out to signal the passing of the pontiff. These bells tolled in April 2005 when Pope John Paul II diedarchbalt.org, and again this week in mourning for Pope Franciscatholicnewsagency.com. Traditionally, such a death knell resounds not only in Rome but in cathedrals around the world, uniting the Catholic faithful in grief and prayer at the loss of their spiritual leader. In at least one instance, observers noted the bell tolled once for each year of the late pope’s lifealeteia.org – a poignant tribute to a life of service. The somber pealing of bells serves as both an announcement and an invitation: it announces that the Holy See is vacant and invites prayers for the soul of the departed pope.
Beyond the bells, a unique protocol is followed to officially confirm and announce a papal death. It is the duty of the cardinal camerlengo, the chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, to verify that the pope has indeed passed awaypolitico.eu. Historically, this involved calling the pope’s baptismal name three times. According to tradition, if there is no response, the camerlengo declares “sede vacante” – Latin for “the seat is empty”. (An oft-repeated myth holds that the camerlengo also gently taps the pope’s forehead with a small silver hammer during this ritual, but the Vatican has long denied this practicepolitico.eu.) Once death is confirmed, the camerlengo secures the late pope’s official seals and the Ring of the Fisherman – the papal signet ring used to authenticate documents – and arranges for these to be destroyed or defaced in the presence of witnessespolitico.eu. This dramatic act, unchanged in essence from its historical origin as a guard against forgery, symbolically signals the end of the pope’s authority and prevents any misuse of his seal.
With the pope’s passing formally acknowledged, the Vatican announces the news to the world. As was the case with Pope Francis, a brief statement is issued to the press, but the ringing of St. Peter’s bells remains the most resonant confirmation for many Catholicscatholicnewsagency.
The Novendiales: Nine Days of Mourning and Tribute
Following a papal death, the Catholic Church observes a traditional period of mourning known as the Novendiales (from the Latin novem for nine). This is a span of nine consecutive days of mourning Masses and memorial rites for the deceased popecatholicnewsagency.comkcra
Each day of the Novendiales includes a Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of the departed pontiff. Cardinals of the Church gather not only to pray, but also to begin informal discussions about the needs of the Church as they prepare for the task of electing a successorcatholicnewsagency.
The symbolism of the Novendiales is profound. In Catholic tradition, nine days of mourning can also be seen as a nine-day novena of prayer, a practice of persevering prayer that invokes divine guidance. By praying for nine days after a pope’s death, the Church not only honors the departed but also spiritually prepares for the decision to come. This extended mourning period ensures that the transition to new leadership is approached with reverence, ample reflection, and prayerful discernment. It is a time when the Church, in a sense, catches its breath – the bustling machinery of the Vatican slows, and the focus turns to remembering the legacy of the pope who has died and seeking God’s guidance for the future. Only after the Novendiales does the Church formally conclude the mourning and turn fully to the task of electing the next Successor of St. Petercatholicnewsagency.com.
Conclave: Secrecy and Tradition in Electing a New Pope
Once the late pope has been laid to rest and the nine days of mourning conclude, attention shifts to the conclave – the secretive electoral gathering of cardinals to choose the new pope. The term conclave itself comes from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key,” a reference to the tradition of locking the cardinals away until a decision is reachedkcra.com. This practice began in the Middle Ages to prevent outside interference (and, legend has it, to hurry along deliberations – one 13th-century conclave in Viterbo dragged on for years until local authorities literally roofed in and rationed the cardinals to force a vote). Today’s conclaves are typically more swift, but they remain cloaked in strict secrecy and solemn ritual.
The conclave for Pope Francis’ successor, like those before it, will convene in the Sistine Chapel, under the gaze of Michelangelo’s frescoed ceilingpolitico.eu. Only cardinal electors under the age of 80 are admitted – roughly 120 princes of the Church from around the world, each sworn to absolute secrecypolitico.eu. In a ceremonial start, the cardinals celebrate a special Mass and then process into the chapel. Once inside, an official command of “Extra omnes” – Latin for “Everyone out!” – is issued by the master of papal liturgical ceremonies, ordering all non-electors and support staff to leave the chapelkcra.com. The doors are shut, and the chapel is physically sealed, with tapes and seals applied to ensure no one enters or communicates with those insidepolitico.eu. At this moment, the outside world can only wait and pray; the decision rests solely with the secluded cardinals.
Inside the Sistine Chapel, time-honored procedures govern the election. The cardinals take an oath to observe the conclave’s rules and to choose the new pope to the best of their judgment and conscience. Voting then occurs through secret paper ballots. Each cardinal writes down one name – any baptized Catholic male is technically eligible, but for the past 700 years the pope has always been selected from among the cardinals themselvespolitico.eu. Ballots are collected in a chalice atop the altar and counted. If no one achieves the required two-thirds majority, the ballots from that round are burned in a special stove with a chemical mixture that sends dark smoke up the Sistine chimney, visible to onlookers outsidepolitico.eu. This is the famous fumata nera, or black smoke, which tells the world “no pope yet.” The cardinals then proceed to another round of voting. They can hold up to four votes per day (typically two in the morning, two in the afternoon)politico.eu. This cycle repeats – voting then burning – until a candidate finally secures a two-thirds majority, or until a deadlock prompts a day of prayer and reflection as prescribed by conclave rules.
To summarize the key stages of the conclave and its rituals:
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Sealing the Chapel: After a final exhortation, all outsiders are expelled with the “Extra omnes” command, and the Sistine Chapel is locked and secured for total privacykcra.com. The cardinals are completely cut off – no phones, no internet, and under strict oath not to communicate with the outside world.
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Secret Ballots: The cardinal electors hold successive rounds of voting in deep prayer and confidentiality. Ballots are cast and counted in front of the assembled electorspolitico.eu. If the vote is inconclusive, the ballots are burned with additives to produce black smoke that pours out of the chimney above St. Peter’s Square, signaling to the public that no decision has been reachedpolitico.eu.
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White Smoke – Decision Reached: When a new pope is finally elected, the ballots from that decisive vote are burned alone or with special chemicals that produce white smoke – the fumata bianca. This white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney is the traditional sign that Habemus Papam – “We have a Pope”politico.eu. At the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis, for example, crowds erupted in cheers as white smoke appeared, knowing it meant a new pontiff had been chosen.
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Modern Enhancements: To avoid any confusion about the smoke’s color (a problem that caused suspense and false alarms in some 20th-century conclaves), the Vatican in modern times has refined the process. Since 1963, chemical compounds have been added to ensure the smoke is clearly black or white. And beginning in 2005, the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica are rung as a secondary confirmation when white smoke appears. This redundancy leaves no doubt about the election outcome – as soon as the famous chimney emits white plumes, the great bell peals joyously in Romechristiantoday.com. In 2005, observers in St. Peter’s Square waited anxiously for this very signal: “White smoke came pouring out… we began cheering and waited for the conclusive sign: the ringing of the bells,” one eyewitness recounted of Pope Benedict XVI’s electioncatholic.com. Moments later, the bells rang and the crowd knew for certain a new pope had been chosen.
Through each of these steps, the conclave balances ancient ritual and modern practicality. The secrecy and sacredness harken back to apostolic times – emphasizing that this is not merely an election but a prayerful discernment believed to be guided by the Holy Spirit. At the same time, measures like the smoke signals and bell ringing serve a practical purpose: efficiently communicating the progress of the vote to the outside world without breaching the conclave’s inner sanctum. It’s a system that has evolved over centuries of use, surviving controversies, reforms, and even technological change, yet it remains one of the most tradition-bound events in the modern world.
Habemus Papam: Proclaiming the New Pope
White smoke billows from the Sistine Chapel chimney, framed against Rome’s sky – the classic sign that a decision has been made. Within minutes, another ancient ritual begins to unfold. The senior deacon of the cardinals (the Cardinal Protodeacon) steps onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver the joyous proclamation that has echoed for generations: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!” – “I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope!”politico.eukcra.com. These Latin words, unchanged by time, are the Church’s way of telling the world that the period of uncertainty is over – a new pontiff has been chosen to lead the Catholic Church.
The full announcement, delivered in Latin, declares the name of the cardinal who has been elected and the regnal name he has chosen for his papacy. For example, when Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected in 2013, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran emerged to announce “Habemus Papam… dominum Georgium Marium… qui sibi nomen imposuit Franciscum”, revealing that the new Pope “has taken the name Francis.” In the latest conclave, we can expect a similar formula – steeped in Latin and tradition – to introduce Pope Francis’s successor to the world. This moment, known as the Habemus Papam announcement, typically occurs about 40 to 60 minutes after the white smoke, allowing time for the new pope to accept his election, choose a papal name, and dress in his papal vestments.
Finally, the Vatican’s red curtains flutter open and the new pope himself steps out onto the balcony. Cheers erupt from the thousands packed into St. Peter’s Square and from Catholics watching live on televisions, phones, and computers across the globe. The new pontiff, clad in the simple white cassock and with the weight of history on his shoulders, greets the Church for the first time. He often begins with a prayer or an expression of humility before imparting his first Urbi et Orbi blessing – a benediction “to the city and to the world.” This was the scene when Pope Francis first appeared in 2013, and it will replay in similar form for the next pope. “Soon the new leader of the 1.1 billion Roman Catholics across the world will take to the Vatican balcony and give the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing to the faithful,” one contemporary report described, capturing the mix of reverence and celebration that accompanies a papal debutchristiantoday.com.
The pageantry on the balcony is rich with symbolic touches. Flanking the new pope, for instance, you’ll often see other officials – the Cardinal Protodeacon who introduced him, and masters of ceremony. The backdrop is the loggia of St. Peter’s, adorned with a tapestry bearing the papal coat of arms or other insignia. In the square below, banners wave and many tearful eyes look upward in joy and relief. This is the culmination of the papal transition: the succession from one pope to the next is complete. A voice on the balcony speaks in ancient language, a man in white raises his hand to bless, and a tradition continues unbroken.
Notably, some traditional elements have evolved in modern times. For centuries, newly elected popes were crowned with the papal tiara in a grand coronation ceremony. The last pope to have a coronation was Paul VI in 1963; his successors, beginning with Pope John Paul I in 1978, chose to forgo the bejeweled tiara in favor of a simpler inauguration Mass. This change illustrates how even the most solemn traditions can be updated: the essence of the ritual – the formal investiture of the new Bishop of Rome – remains, but its form can shift to reflect contemporary values of humility and simplicity. Likewise, Pope Francis himself introduced modifications to his installation, such as using a simple pallium (liturgical shawl) and fisherman's ring, and emphasizing his title as Bishop of Rome. Yet, significantly, no pope has ever dispensed with the Habemus Papam announcement or the white smoke signal – these signs are considered too fundamental to the drama and continuity of the papacy.
The Symbolism and Relevance of Ritual in Modern Times
In an age of instant information, one might ask: why retain these old-fashioned customs of bells and smoke, Latin proclamations and locked-door conclaves? The answer lies in what these rituals symbolize for the Catholic Church and the faithful. They are tangible links to the Church’s deep history – a reminder that the papacy is an institution over 2,000 years old, with traditions that have survived virtually unchanged through wars, technological revolutions, and societal upheavals. When black or white smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel, Catholics are seeing the same signal their grandparents and great-grandparents awaited, and that continuity is a source of collective identity and stability.
There is also a religious depth to these practices. Bells in the Catholic tradition mark sacred moments – they peal in times of celebration and toll in times of mourning, almost as the voice of the Church itself. The tolling bells at a pope’s death invite the faithful to prayer, essentially saying, “Our shepherd has gone to God, let us pray for him.” Conversely, the jubilant ringing at a papal election is like a wedding peal or Easter fanfare, proclaiming hope and new beginning. Similarly, smoke carries biblical resonance (as incense or sacrificial smoke rising to the heavens) and practical function. In the context of a conclave, smoke is a humble, highly visible signal that unites everyone watching – whether a pilgrim in the square or a viewer online – in the suspense and then the excitement of the moment. As one journalist quipped during a recent conclave, the world’s biggest religious community still pauses “because history still waits on smoke” from a tiny chimney in the Vaticanx.com. The continued use of this smoke signal, enhanced with modern chemistry for clarity, shows the Church’s desire to honor tradition while ensuring it can be read unmistakably in our time.
Other rituals surrounding a pope’s death and the election underscore a balance of faith and function. The camerlengo’s verification of death and the destruction of the papal ring have legal and practical purposes, but they are also laden with symbolism about the finality of the end of a reignpolitico.eu. The nine days of mourning serve pastoral and spiritual purposes, allowing for collective grieving and prayer, while also giving cardinals time to seek divine guidance for the choice ahead. The conclave’s secrecy fosters unity and reflection, attempting to shut out worldly pressures so that the decision may be made, as Catholics believe, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And when the new pope appears on the balcony, those traditions – the announcement, the blessing – ritualize the transfer of leadership in a way that is both emotional and orderly. Even skeptics of ceremony might concede that few events in the world have the kind of gravitas and universal focus that the Habemus Papam moment commands.
Crucially, these age-old rites remain relevant because they speak to the human heart in a way that transcends language and technology. A plume of white smoke means “good news” in any tongue; a pealing bell stirs a primal recognition of celebration or alarm. By preserving these signals, the Vatican ensures that a pope’s death and the election of his successor are not just administrative announcements, but lived experiences for Catholics everywhere. They reinforce the notion that the pope is not merely a CEO of a corporation, but the visible head of a spiritual family – when he dies, that family mourns together, and when a new father is chosen, that family rejoices together.
As the Catholic Church moves through another historic transition – mourning Pope Francis and awaiting his successor – the bells and smoke are once again doing what they have always done. They bridge the old and the new, the earthly and the divine. In the words proclaimed at every new papal election: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum – these traditions announce a great joy, and in doing so, they preserve a legacy that continues to ring true in the modern world.
Sources:
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Catholic News Agency – Courtney Mares (Apr. 22, 2025): Explainer on the nine days of mourning (Novendiales)catholicnewsagenc
y.com catholicnewsagency.com -
Archdiocese of Baltimore (Catholic Review) – Reflections on Pope John Paul II’s death (Apr. 2005)archbalt.org
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Christian Today – Daniel Blake (Apr. 20, 2005): Report on the election of Pope Benedict XVI, describing white smoke and bellschristiantoday.comchristi
antoday.com -
Politico – Seb Starcevic (Apr. 21, 2025): “What happens after Pope Francis’ death” (details on camerlengo, ring destruction, conclave procedures)politico.eupolitico
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Universi Dominici Gregis (1996) and Vatican tradition as summarized by Papal conclave archives (via Wikipedia)
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KCRA News (Apr. 2025): “Key terms as the Church mourns Pope Francis” (definitions of Habemus Papam, Sede Vacante, etc.)kcra.comkcra.com
These and other sources document how the Vatican’s ancient customs – from tolling bells to rising smoke – have evolved slightly in form but not in spirit, remaining a vital part of Catholic life and lore in the 21st century.