Choosing the next pope: How the Vatican makes its smoke signal

Experts say the process requires "two custom fireworks", smoke test rehearsals and Vatican firefighters on standby.

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If the smoke is black, no new pope has been chosen. If it is white, a decision has been made: Habemus Papam - we have a pope. It's high drama, broadcast live to millions.

But what viewers don't see is the centuries-old ritual's hidden complexity: the carefully built chimney, the engineered stove and the precise chemical recipes, each part painstakingly designed to ensure that a wisp of smoke carries a clear message.

Experts told the BBC that the process requires "two custom fireworks", smoke test rehearsals and Vatican firefighters on standby. It is meticulously organised by a team of engineers and Church officials working in unison.

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday aged 88 and with the funeral now over, attention has turned to the conclave - a private meeting through which a new pope will be chosen.