Bells And Smoke Will Herald New Pope

I found this piece in today's Express, a publication of The Washington Post which explains the procedure according to which a new pope is elected:

Responding to Pope John Paul II's request, the Vatican will depart from centuries-old tradition by ringing bells in addition to sending up white smoke to signal the election of his successor.

Three groups of cardinals-scrutineers, revisers, infirmarii-count the votes, check the ballots and collect some from those too ill to attend.

Each cardinal writes the name of his candidate, folds the ballot twice and carries it to the altar to drop it in an urn.

One scrutineer unfolds each, notes the name and passes to the second who does the same. Third scrutineer reads the name aloud. A two-thirds vote is required to elect the new pope.

Ballots are burned with chemicals to make the smoke black (fuma nera) or white (fuma bianca). If no pope is elected, black smoke appears.

White smoke and the ringing of bells will signal that a pope has been chosen.

The new pope is introduced at St. Peter's Square and imparts his first blessing.