> > > How does one become elected pope?
> >
> > All of the cardinals get together in Rome and get locked into a big room. Then they argue about who should be pope, for months sometimes, and are only allowed out when they all agree.
>
> Seems like there's something to do with smoke from the chimney announcing whether they have one or not. Black smoke means one thing, and white smoke means another.

When they've come to a decision, they put birch twigs on the fire, which produces white smoke. Then the people outside know to let them out. Black smoke presumably means they haven't made a decision yet.

> Nyper"Mother watches documentaries"old

winter"If they're in there for months, how come they don't starve to death?"mute