THE SMOKE WATCHERS

By Sean O'Leary

In the heart of Rome, 11-year-old Luca bounced on his feet, clutching his sister Sofia’s hand as they stood in St. Peter’s Square. It was May 7, 2025, and the conclave to pick the new pope was beginning inside the Vatican. The air buzzed with excitement, tourists snapped selfies, pilgrims prayed and news crews angled for the perfect shot of the Sistine Chapel’s chimney. Luca’s eyes were glued to that tiny pipe, waiting for the special moment that would capture the world’s attention.

“White smoke, Sofia! That’s what we want.” Luca said, waving a little Vatican flag. Sofia, 16 and way more relaxed, smiled but couldn’t hide her own anticipation. “Relax, Luca. It’s only the first day. Black smoke’s probably coming first … no pope yet.”

Inside the Sistine Chapel, Luca imagined the cardinals, all decked out in red robes, scribbling votes on secret ballots under Michelangelo’s epic frescoes. He’d learned in school how they needed a two-thirds majority to pick the pope. After each vote, they’d burn the ballots in a special stove, tossing in chemicals to make the smoke black (no pope yet) or white for a new pope. For the cardinals in conclave, no phones, no media and no communication in or out. Luca marvelled at these rules, wondering what it all meant.

“Check this out,” Sofia nudged him, pointing at her phone. “Vatican Media’s got the chimney on livestream. But being here’s way better.” Luca nodded, squinting at the sky. The best time to spot smoke today was just after 7 p.m. or 6 p.m. in Wexford, where their cousins were probably waiting to hear from them. If no pope was picked tonight, they’d be back tomorrow, eyeing the chimney throughout the day.

The crowd hushed as 7 p.m. neared. Luca held his breath, gripping Sofia’s sleeve. Suddenly, a puff curled from the chimney ….. dark, heavy, black. The square groaned, but Luca just grinned. “They’re still figuring it out. That’s good!” he exclaimed loudly. Sofia laughed. “Yeah, Luca, it looks like they’re going to have to sleep on it.”

The next morning, the siblings were back, slurping gelato and scanning the sky. Sofia explained what she’d read from some news lady: “Starting today, they can vote four times a day, two in the morning, two in the afternoon but we only get two smoke signals. If the first vote doesn’t pick a pope, they do another straight away and burn both sets of ballots together.” Luca’s eyes widened. “So it’s like a secret code!”

By noon, another stream of smoke, black again. The crowd sighed, but Luca and Sofia didn’t care. They were hooked, part of this global wait for the white smoke that’d mean a new pope was ready to step onto St. Peter’s balcony. As they sat for a while, Luca whispered, “Soon, Sofia. It’s gotta be white.” Sofia ruffled his hair. “Maybe, little man. Either way, we’re in on the adventure.” Luca nodded, becoming serious for a moment. In his heart, he prayed: ‘Holy Spirit, come! Help the cardinals choose a pope who loves God and leads us with a big heart. Keep them all safe and show them the way. Amen.’

And so, with the world waiting, some in the square, some at home, Luca and Sofia kept their eyes on the chimney, ready for the moment the smoke would turn white and the cry of “Habemus Papam!” would echo in St. Peter’s Square, through the streets of Rome and across the whole world.

Eventually, when a faint wisp of white finally curled skyward, they froze, then erupted in cheers, hugging neighbours and each other. In that fleeting moment, they weren’t just waiting for a pope; they were bound by hope, a reminder that even in times of waiting, life’s joy is in the connections we make along the way.

On their way home, even though they had trouble giving words to their experience, both Sofia and Luca knew that the pope stands as a beacon of hope, guiding many millions in a broken world with a voice of compassion and unity. More than any other world leader, the pope’s faith would inspire others to seek justice, embrace kindness and build bridges across divides. His steadfast commitment to love and service would keep a global spark shining brightly, uplifting communities and encouraging each of us to carry forward the light of Jesus out into the world.