Vatican Still Undecided: Black Smoke Instead of White

Today in Rome, one of those rare but highly impressive events took place: black smoke once again billowed over the famous Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. The cardinals, gathered for the conclave, failed to elect a new Pope, and the entire Catholic world — and beyond — resumed reading the smoke, wondering: who will be next, and when?

As is well known, the process of electing a pontiff is reminiscent of both a government procurement tender and a student retake — the number of attempts is unlimited, and the outcome remains unknown until the very end. Black smoke, just to clarify, is not a signal of fire or a shortage of heating in the Vatican. It is merely an elegant form of collective “not yet.”

Journalists and pilgrims, fueled by Italian coffee and their own faith in miracles, crowded St. Peter’s Square. Some insist the smoke was “blacker than before,” others say it had a “hint of hope.” Still, everyone unanimously agrees: the process continues, the intrigue remains, and the Vatican will give analysts plenty of reasons to count the amount of “non-white” smoke per square meter.

In the corridors, some joke that if the election were held using modern technology — say, a Telegram poll or at least a Zoom conclave — white smoke could be produced with special emojis. But in the Vatican, tradition is stronger than Wi-Fi, so the whole world continues to wait: who will become the new “Pope squared”?

The next attempt is already tomorrow. For now — just black smoke, riddles, and the subtle feeling that the Vatican loves the process more than the result.