What ceremony is traditionally held in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope?

The papal conclave is the ceremony held in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope.

A conclave brings together the Catholic Church's cardinal electors after a pope dies or resigns. The electors are secluded in Vatican City and cast ballots until one candidate receives the required majority. The chapel is the principal setting for the voting and related ceremonial oaths.

The word conclave comes from Latin roots meaning “with a key,” referring to the enclosed conditions under which the electors meet. The procedure developed over centuries and has been revised by different popes.

The election is announced to the public through smoke from the ballot papers. Black smoke indicates that no pope has been elected, while white smoke signals a successful election. The conclave and the chapel's art are separate aspects of the building's history, but both contribute to its global importance.