Chimney primer: Black smoke = no new pope; white smoke = new pope.
On Friday, the College of Cardinals decided that the papal conclave to pick a successor to Pope Benedict XVI will start this coming Tuesday. The first vote will be held that afternoon; four votes each day after that. In preparation, Vatican workers spent Saturday morning on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, where, as per tradition, they installed the temporary rust-colored chimney that will let the world’s one billion Catholics (and some other people) know when the new pontiff has been selected. (White smoke will issue forth when they have their guy.) The process is expected to take only a few days.
