In the papal conclave to elect a new pope, here's a look at what the color of smoke (black or white) means after each vote.

A change in popes — through death or resignation — is a complicated process. These are the need-to-know terms — some of them ...

After the ballots are pierced, they are burned in a cylindrical stove at the end of the voting session. Black smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney means no decision; white smoke signals the cardinals ...

This is Latin for “having had mercy and choosing him” — a phrase that Francis chose as his motto when he was elevated to ...

During the 2013 conclave that led to the election of Pope Francis, the black smoke was produced using a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene (a component of coal tar) and sulfur.

the piercing of ballots with a needle and thread after they're counted, and then burning them to produce either the white or black smoke to signal if there's a new leader for the world's 1.3 ...