Patrick Madrid took us on a mini-Vatican science class today. If you've ever wondered how the smoke in a papal conclave works, you need to listen in!

 

 

White Smoke = We Have a Pope!

 

First things first: when a new pope is chosen and he accepts the job (yes, acceptance is key... no forced papacies here), you get the famous white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney.

 

White Smoke Recipe:

 

-Potassium chlorate

 

-Lactose (yes, milk sugar)

 

-Rosin (resin from pine trees)

 

Mix all that up and you get a clean-burning white smoke that's crystal clear to the crowd: Habemus Papam! 

 

 

Black Smoke = No New Pope Yet!

 

When no Pope is chosen, you'll see the rise of black smoke. To make that bold, unmistakable smoke signal, the Vatican mixes:

 

-Potassium perchlorate

 

-Anthracene

 

-Sulfur (yep, good ol’ stinky sulfur)

 

 

🧾 And What’s Burning, Anyway?

 

The ballots! Each vote is handwritten and collected. Then they:

 

-Thread the ballots together (no ballot left behind!)

 

-Burn them after each round

 

Before modern chemistry came along (this change happened in 2005), they used to just burn the ballots with wet straw. That gave off black smoke (but sometimes a little gray), which was confusing. Hence, the Vatican change the formula!

 

 

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Patrick Madrid took us on a mini-Vatican science class today. If you've ever wondered&nbsp;how the smoke in a papal conclave works, you need to listen in!
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="424" data-end="427">
&nbsp;
White Smoke = We Have a Pope!
&nbsp;
First things first: when a new pope is chosen and he accepts the job (yes, acceptance is key... no forced papacies here),&nbsp;you get the famous white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney.
&nbsp;
White Smoke Recipe:
&nbsp;
-Potassium chlorate
&nbsp;
-Lactose (yes, milk sugar)
&nbsp;
-Rosin (resin from pine trees)
&nbsp;
Mix all that up and you get a clean-burning white smoke that's crystal clear to the crowd:&nbsp;Habemus Papam!&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="1058" data-end="1061">
&nbsp;
Black Smoke = No New Pope Yet!
&nbsp;
When no Pope is chosen, you'll see the rise of black smoke. To make that bold, unmistakable smoke signal, the Vatican mixes:
&nbsp;
-Potassium perchlorate
&nbsp;
-Anthracene
&nbsp;
-Sulfur (yep, good ol&rsquo; stinky sulfur)
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="1601" data-end="1604">
&nbsp;
🧾&nbsp;And What&rsquo;s Burning, Anyway?
&nbsp;
The ballots! Each vote is handwritten and collected. Then they:
&nbsp;
-Thread the ballots together (no ballot left behind!)
&nbsp;
-Burn them after each round
&nbsp;
Before modern chemistry came along (this change happened in 2005), they used to just burn the ballots with wet straw. That gave off black smoke (but sometimes a little gray), which was confusing. Hence, the Vatican change the formula!
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The&nbsp;best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

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