
so that’s not actually how electing a pope works! within the weeks following the past pope’s death or abdication, all of the cardinals from around the world join together in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican to vote for a new pope. There are four voting periods per day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. after each voting period, a pillar of smoke is released. if the smoke is normal (black), no new pope has been elected. if the smoke is white, a new pope has been elected!