| On the event when it is necessary to elect a new Pope, all the cardinals around the world gather at the Sistine Chapel and enter into a secret ballot without outside contact. This can extend for days with only the head cardinal as the contact to the external world. A chimney system indicates the outcome of the ballot, white smoke indicating a Pope had been elected and black smoke indicating that a re-election was in progress. During present-day meetings of cardinals, the chapel is carefully searched for bugs, recorders and cameras.
After the new Pope accepts his election, he would give his new name; at this time, the other Cardinals would tug on a rope attached to their seats to lower their canopies.
The Sistine Chapel is a high rectangular brick building, its exterior unadorned by architectural or decorative details, as common in many Medieval and Renaissance churches in Italy. The interior is filled with Renaissance architecture and reflects the growing interest in the Classical heritage of Rome at earlier times. The Frescos (wall paintings) have great religious significance and are usually made by famous artistes of that time, notably, Perugino, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Rossellini, Signorelli and Michelangelo. |
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