The Vatican still uses smoke signals to relay important news — like picking a new Pope for example — but the rest of the modern-day world seems to prefer using these cool devices called cell phones and laptops.
Today, the Sistine Chapel will send its traditional signal, smoke from the cardinals’ burning ballots, to announce if a new Pope has been chosen.
But because people often have a difficult time determining the color of the smoke — gray if the cardinals have not reached a decision or white if they’ve selected a new Pope — the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) has decided to make it easier for everyone and will send you a text or email once the Pope has been picked if you register at www.popealarm.com.
“When the smoke goes up, you’ll know what’s going down,” the website brags.
The site has been so popular that it’s now had to put a cap on the number of people who will receive a text, although you can still sign up for email alerts.
As of Tuesday morning, 40,000 people had registered for one or both types of alert.
But if that doesn’t strike your fancy as an appropriate way to find out the new head of the Catholic Church, you can always check isthereanewpope.com throughout the day. The answer will be either be no or yes. No need to speculate if the smoke is gray or white.
If you’re feeling anxious about who the new pope will be, the website www.adoptacardinal.org will choose a cardinal for you to pray for as they make this monumental decision.
And if you’re really bored and want to kill time before a new pope is announced, you can choose who your own pope would be on the The Guardian’s Pontifficator based on factors such as their age and views on contraception.
Happy New Pope Day!
