Are They Waiting for White Smoke?...Flock of Seagulls Becomes the 'Scene-Stealer' of the Conclave

Flocking to the World’s Most Watched Chimney,
Seagulls Vanish as Black Smoke Rises
In 2013, They Appeared Before the White Smoke

On the first day of the conclave, the election process to select a new pope, seagulls became the unexpected scene-stealers at the Vatican. On May 7 (local time), international media outlets such as USA Today reported that seagulls drew public attention as they flew to the Sistine Chapel, where the first round of voting by the College of Cardinals was underway. Flocks of seagulls, including chicks, instantly captured the gaze of those eagerly waiting for the first smoke to rise from the chapel chimney. The seagulls circled around the chimney, as if recognizing the 'most famous chimney in the world,' and roamed the chapel roof as if it were their own home. This spectacle delighted not only the onlookers gathered in St. Peter's Square but also Christians around the world watching the live broadcast of the conclave.

Seagulls that guarded the conclave site also caused a stir on social media (SNS) that day. The Catholic media outlet LifeSite posted a photo of seagulls sitting on the roof of the cathedral on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, "This seagull represents all of us." Reuters · Yonhap News

The seagulls that guarded the conclave site also caused a stir on social media (SNS) that day. The Catholic media outlet LifeSite posted a photo of seagulls sitting on the cathedral roof on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, "This seagull represents all of us." Another interesting scene was that the seagulls left the area just as black smoke began to rise from the chimney. Black smoke means that no candidate received the support of more than two-thirds of the College of Cardinals, so the conclave continues.

Some believers interpret the appearance of seagulls as a sign of the pope's election

This is not the first time seagulls have appeared at a conclave. In 2013, a seagull also perched at the very top of the Sistine Chapel chimney during the conclave and stayed there for 40 minutes. About an hour after the bird flew away, white smoke rose from the chimney. This was the signal that Pope Francis had been elected on the fifth ballot. Some Catholic believers who witnessed this compared the seagull sitting on the chimney to the Holy Spirit and interpreted it as a sign of the pope's election.

This is not the first time seagulls have appeared at a conclave. In 2013, a seagull also perched at the very top of the Sistine Chapel chimney during the conclave and stayed there for 40 minutes. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by AP and Yonhap News.

Meanwhile, the next pope is chosen through the conclave, a secret ballot by the cardinals. The cardinals repeat the voting process until a candidate receives the support of more than two-thirds and is elected as the successor to Pope Francis. The conclave is conducted under strict secrecy. To prevent leaks, the use of mobile phones, the internet, and newspapers is prohibited. Cardinals with voting rights must take an oath of secrecy according to the election regulations. The oath states, "I pledge to maintain absolute and perpetual secrecy with anyone who is not a member of the College of Cardinals regarding all matters related to the election of the pope, whether directly or indirectly." The cardinals must also swear not to leave any form of record during the election period. If this oath is violated, automatic excommunication will result.

A stove is installed in the voting hall to burn the ballots. The color of the smoke from the stove’s chimney, which is connected to the chapel roof, signals the outcome of the election to those outside. After each round of voting, the ballots are burned in the stove with chemicals to produce either white or black smoke. White smoke means a pope has been elected, while black smoke means no election has occurred and voting will continue.

After a new pope is elected through the voting process, he dons the white papal garments in the 'Room of Tears' next to the Sistine Chapel. Since the physical build of the elected pope cannot be known in advance, three sizes of vestments are prepared ahead of time. The name 'Room of Tears' comes from stories of previous popes who were so moved upon their election that they shed tears. The newly elected pope, dressed in white, then appears before the public for the first time.