• The Sistine Chapel is being prepared for the papal conclave following the death of Pope Francis.
• Firefighters installed a chimney that will signal the election outcome by emitting black or white smoke.
• 133 cardinals will cast their votes in secret, with the conclave starting on May 7.
• Procedures include daily discussions among cardinals and safety measures around the voting process.

In an effort to prepare the Sistine Chapel for the upcoming papal conclave, a chimney has been installed to signal the election's outcome. The chimney, alongside a stove for burning ballots, will be crucial in communicating whether a new pope has been selected, with black smoke indicating no elected candidate, and white smoke indicating a successful election. These preparations come in the wake of the death of Pope Francis, with the conclave set to begin on May 7, 2025, according to Channel News Asia and Jakarta Post.

The intense preparations include securing a false floor in the chapel for voting purposes and arranging wooden tables for the cardinals. Five electricians and technicians will be on-site to manage the electronic stove and black out windows to ensure privacy during the conclave. Workers were observed installing the chimney securely atop the chapel, which will serve as the public's primary signal regarding the conclave's progress, as emphasized by India Times and CBS News.

Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesman, confirmed that there are currently 135 cardinal electors eligible to vote. These cardinals have been meeting daily to discuss the challenges their next leader will face. Among the favorites for election are Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Cardinal Peter Turkson, with all the discussions leading up to the solemn voting process expected to be closely watched by observers worldwide, according to South China Morning Post and Dawn.

Once the conclave begins, the cardinal electors will cast ballots behind closed doors until a candidate achieves the required two-thirds majority. The voting process includes multiple stages, during which ballots are burned in the stove, allowing the smoke color to indicate the outcome to the public. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will celebrate a Mass at St. Peter's Basilica to commence the conclave, after which the doors are locked, ensuring confidentiality as the cardinals deliberate, notes NPR and CBS News.