The Vatican has installed a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel in preparation for the upcoming conclave, scheduled to begin on May 7. This installation marks a significant step following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88.

The chimney will serve a critical function during the conclave, which will see the voting cardinals set to gather in Rome.

After each voting session, ballots will be incinerated in a stove, with black smoke indicating that no pope has been elected, and white smoke signaling a successful election, achieved by the addition of specific chemicals to the burning ballots.

A total of 133 cardinal electors, all under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote, have been summoned to Rome.

Although there are 135 eligible cardinals in total, two have opted out of participating.

The secret voting process will commence on May 7 and is expected to unfold over several days.

Voting procedures dictate that the cardinals will cast their ballots multiple times each day.

The first day will feature one vote, followed by two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon in subsequent days.

A candidate must secure a two-thirds majority to be elected, amounting to at least 89 votes.

If no candidate achieves this threshold during the first morning vote, a second vote will occur, at which point the chimney will signal the outcome with smoke.

The same process will be followed for the afternoon votes.

Should three consecutive days pass without a successful election, the voting will be temporarily halted for a day of prayer, after which additional rounds of voting will be carried out until a new pope is conclusively elected.