The Vatican fire brigade scaled the roof of the Sistine Chapel on May 2 to install the iconic chimney that the College of Cardinals will use to send white smoke into the sky above St. Peter’s Square to let the world know when a new Pope is elected.
On May 5, all clergy and laypersons set to attend the conclave will be sworn in, including secret service and Swiss Guard personnel, doctors and nurses, staff for technical, cleaning, and translation services, the secretary of the College of Cardinals, and staff responsible for assisting with transporting the cardinals to and from the Casa Santa Marta residence.
