white smoke
Conclave's positive announcement
White smoke is the signal that a new pope has been elected.
Cardinals voting in a papal conclave burn their ballots after each round—black smoke signals no decision, white smoke announces a successful election.
The phrase extends to any long-awaited announcement after prolonged deliberation: We're still waiting for white smoke from the negotiations.
Private, secretive assembly
- cardinalsPope-electing prelates or finches
- VaticanPapal city-state
- Sistine ChapelVatican worship hall
- pontiffSupreme Catholic leader
Pope · chimney · plume · succession · ballot · electors · St. Peter's Square · Holy See
Passing very quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- dissipatingScattering and fading out
- fadingGradual loss of intensity
- vanishingCeasing to be visible
wispy · drifting · curling · billowing · rising · dispersing · dissolving · momentary
Freedom from wrongdoing
- cleanlinessAbsence of dirt
- clarityState of being understandable
- pristinePure and untouched
- unblemishedFree from any defect
immaculate · sanctity · virginity · holiness · transcendence · simplicity · wholesomeness · freshness
Flame for sending messages
- beaconGuiding light source
- communicationExchanging ideas or information
- pyrotechnicsArt of explosive displays
- flareSudden bright burst
alerting · visibility · messaging · distress · rescue · announcement · indication · agreement
conclave
Private, secretive assembly
- cardinalsPope-electing prelates or finches
- VaticanPapal city-state
- Sistine ChapelVatican worship hall
pontiff · Pope · chimney · plume · succession · ballot · electors · St. Peter's Square · Holy See · faithful
fleeting
Passing very quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- dissipatingScattering and fading out
- fadingGradual loss of intensity
vanishing · wispy · drifting · curling · billowing · rising · dispersing · dissolving · momentary · evanescent
innocence
Freedom from wrongdoing
- cleanlinessAbsence of dirt
- clarityState of being understandable
- pristinePure and untouched
unblemished · immaculate · sanctity · virginity · holiness · transcendence · simplicity · wholesomeness · freshness · untainted
signal fire
Flame for sending messages
- beaconGuiding light source
- communicationExchanging ideas or information
- pyrotechnicsArt of explosive displays
flare · alerting · visibility · messaging · distress · rescue · announcement · indication · agreement · success
- smokesmokestack
- car problemsflat tire, dead battery, engine light, check engine, brake failure
- papacypontiff, Pope, pope, Holy See, papal election
- off-whitesivory, cream, eggshell, ecru, bone
- Papal Conclaveconclave, papal conclave, papal election, Sistine Chapel, College of Cardinals
- Vatican eventspapal blessing, papal audience, papal election, conclave, canonization