Pope Election

  As the conclave nears, a new Pope will be chosen -- and in light of the elections, a chimney has been installed on the Sistine Chapel.
  Such a thing would seem odd -- though the process comes from a tradition to notify the Catholic masses of the time a new Pope has been chosen. The century old cast-iron stove burns black or white. White means a Pope has been selected (ballots are burning in the stove), whereas black smoke means a Pope has yet to be chosen, and ballots are still being counted. In the past, this process notified the public waiting in anticipation for the election of the new leader of the Catholic followers.
http://news.yahoo.com/sistine-chimney-installed-conclave-nears-135418278.html