Sistine Chapel's recent ties to pop culture Besides the artwork, most people have also become familiar with the Sistine Chapel through fiction thanks to Robert Harris' 2016 hit book-turned-Oscar ...

On Aug. 15, 1483, Pope Sixtus IV consecrated the Sistine Chapel to Our Lady of the Assumption. Today, as we celebrate the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, let’s take a closer look at this ...

Black smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the cardinals' conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Credit: AP/Alessandra Tarantino ...

Firefighters place the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, at the Vatican, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) ...

Workers set up "Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition" at Sailor & The Dock on Oklahoma City’s Film Row on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022.

VATICAN CITY — Black smoke is pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating no pope was elected on the first ballot of the conclave to choose a new leader of the Catholic Church.

Firefighters place the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, at the Vatican, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) ...

After every two rounds of voting in the Sistine Chapel, the ballots of the cardinals are burned in a special furnace to indicate the outcome to the outside world.

After every two rounds of voting in the Sistine Chapel, the ballots of the cardinals are burned in a special furnace to indicate the outcome to the outside world.