From “Vatican II Exposed as Counterfeit Catholicism” by Frs. Francisco and Dominic Radecki, CMRI

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED DURING THE 1958 CONCLAVE?

When cardinals reach a two-thirds majority plus one and elect a new pope, ballots are burned in a stove in the Sistine Chapel and a special chimney emits white smoke that announces the election of a new pope to the world. When a consensus is not reached, wet straw is burned with the ballots creating black smoke, indicating that cardinals have not reached a decision.

The smoke usually appears black at first, then turns white later, never vice versa, unless a pope is elected on the first ballot. On the first day of voting, Sunday, October 26, 1958, mysterious things began to happen. Shortly before noon, white smoke emanated from the smokestack. It then turned black, confusing the crowd.

“Time” magazine Vatican correspondent Wilton Wynn describes the confusion that occurred:

On the first day of balloting, there were two false alarms. In the morning, the smoke that billowed out of the pipe of the Sistine Chapel at first looked like white cotton. As emotional Vatican radio announcer screamed, ‘Bianco, bianco, bianco, bell bianco!’ (White, white, white, beautiful white !’) But his enthusiasm waned quickly; the smoke turned gray and then black. The same thing happened in the afternoon.

At 5:55 p.m. nearly 200,000 people saw white smoke billowing from the chimney floor for about five minutes. The assembled masses cheered the election of a new pope. At 6 p.m. Vatican radio announcer Fr. Pelligrino, said, “The smoke is white…there is absolutely no doubt. A Pope has been elected.” Everyone looked to the balcony to hear the official announcement and to see the newly elected Holy Father, but no one appeared.

The “Los Angeles Times” recorded “observers became confused over whether the smoke signaling the secret election was white or black.”

…the Palatine and Swiss Guards were alerted. The former were summoned from their barracks and ordered to report to St. Peter’s Basilica for the announcement of the name of the Holy Father. Thousands gathered beneath the windows of the apostolic palace waiting to receive the blessing of the new pope. But the new pope failed to appear.