Smoke signals have occurred at mid-morning, noon, mid-afternoon and evening. The longest conclave took three years.

Here's how the conclave creates black and white smoke and why the Catholic Church began using them to signal whether a new pope has been elected.

Here's what to know about the black and white smoke used during a papal conclave. Start the day smarter. Get all the news you ...

For white smoke, a compound of the chemicals potassium chlorate, lactose, and rosin (also known as Greek pitch) is used, ...

Black smoke has been rising from the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the cardinals have not yet elected a new pope on Thursday ...

The 2025 papal conclave is underway. Who will be the new pope when the white smoke settles? Who is the odds-on favorite? Are ...

Papal conclave ballots have been burned to maintain secrecy for centuries. Ballot smoke has been used to announce a decision ...

A change in popes is a complicated process, with centuries-old rituals involving the transition in leadership for both the ...

New intelligence obtained by the United States suggests that Israel is preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, CNN ...

White smoke billowed over the Vatican on the first full day of voting, but this was not quite the fastest conclave in history.

More than 130 cardinals will arrive in Vatican City within the week to participate in the upcoming papal conclave, selecting Pope Francis' successor. Though the process is done in secrecy ...