Fake cardinals, seagulls stealing the show, and dodgy smoke: The Conclave’s most bizarre moments – as cardinals continue choosing Pope Francis’ successor

With cardinals again having failed to find a successor to Pope Francis this morning, the anticipation of Catholics is ramping up as the Conclave continues.

Hailing from 70 different countries, the 133-strong group entered the Sistine Chapel yesterday for the world’s most secretive voting ceremony.

With little to do while cardinals are voting, the attention of spectators yesterday evening turned to a seagull who perched itself on the chimney stack above the Sistine Chapel just before sunset.

Silhouetted against the brilliant blue sky, and visible on several screens around sat Peter’s Square, the bird raised cheers and applause as it stayed there for several minutes surveying the scene before flying off.

It echoed similar scenes at the previous Conclave in 2013, when a seagull also stole the show.

But previous papal elections have brought much more drama than birds being birds. 

From swarms of bees to cardinals dressing as ghosts and fist fights breaking out, the conclave has been the setting for chaos and controversy.

As well as the attention the seagull attracted in 2013, that year’s proceedings also threatened to be disrupted by an imposter who was only rumbled when guards noticed his robes were too short and his fascia (sash) was pink rather than red. 

In 2013, child abuse protestor Ralph Napierski (left, having a picture with Cardinal Sergio Sebiastiana outside the Vatican) posed as a cardinal in an attempt to disrupt that year’s conclave. He was only rumbled when guards noticed his robes were too short and his fascia (sash) was pink rather than red

With little to do while cardinals are voting, the attention of spectators yesterday evening turned to a seagull who perched itself on the chimney stack above the Sistine Chapel just before sunset. It echoed similar scenes at the previous Conclave in 2013, when a seagull also stole the show

Child abuse protester Ralph Napierski, who was calling himself ‘Basilius’, was swiftly detained and expelled.

It is well-known that the world discovers the cardinals’ decision after each round of voting by looking at the colour of smoke that emerges from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney.

It emits black smoke if no pope has been elected and white smoke if a new pontiff has been chosen.

The smoke is produced by the burning of the cardinals’ ballots, whilst the colour comes from the addition of chemicals.   

But, back in 1958, there was much confusion when crowds saw white smoke and therefore believed a new pope had been settled on, only for it to turn black moments later.

Later the same day, there was another false alarm. 

The real white smoke did not come until two days later, when cardinals settled on Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, who served as Pope John XXIII. 

But confusion over smoke is nothing compared to the shenanigans of conclaves of centuries ago.

Back in 1958, there was much confusion when crowds saw white smoke and therefore believed a new pope had been settled on

Moments later, the smoke turned black. The real white smoke did not come until two days later, when cardinals settled on Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, who served as Pope John XXIII

Pope John XXIII was chosen as pope in 1958 and served until his death in 1963

In 1655, a group of young cardinals bored by weeks of deadlock decided to lower themselves to the level of childish pranks.

One dressed up as the Holy Ghost and surprised older colleagues with their costume in the dead of night.

In 1623, a swarm of bees disrupted voting by heading towards Cardinal Maffeo Barberini. Fittingly, his family’s coat of arms included bees.

Some of the voting cardinals saw this strange coincidence as a sign, and so Barberini was lelected Pope Urban VIII.

Eighteen years earlier, in 1605, the conclave had descended into a fist fight which saw cardinals rip the lacy bits off their rochets.

And whilst most modern conclaves have lasted just a matter of days, that was not the case for the process when it kicked off in 1268.

Instead, cardinals choosing a successor to Clement IV spent nearly three years deciding. It marked the longest conclave in history.

Locals in Viterbo, 50 miles north of Rome, grew so irritated by the epic proceedings that they restricted cardinals to a diet of bread and water and even removed the roof of the church. 

With cardinals again having failed to find a successor to Pope Francis this morning, the anticipation of Catholics is ramping up as the Conclave continues. Above: Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel yesterday

In 1623, a swarm of bees disrupted voting by heading towards Cardinal Maffeo Barberini. Fittingly, his family’s coat of arms included bees. Some of the voting cardinals saw this strange coincidence as a sign, and so Barberini was lelected Pope Urban VIII (above)

In the end, they settled on Teobaldo Visconti, who became Gregory X. 

He imposed new rules that stated cardinals would have their food rations cut if they failed to choose a pope within days.  

In modern times, no conclave has lasted longer than five days, when Pius XI was elected after 14 rounds of voting in 1922.  

The conclave to elect the late Pope Francis 12 years ago lasted just two days. To win, a candidate must attract a two-thirds majority. 

Pope Francis’s death aged 88 on April 21 triggered preparations for the current conclave.

The word is derived from the Latin ‘cum clave’, meaning ‘with key’.

Cardinals are sworn to silence and will be thrown out of the Catholic church if they break the vow of secrecy.

The phone signal in the Vatican was cut yesterday at 3pm and will not be restored until a new pope is elected.

Cardinals have to be aged under 80. This year, 135 are eligible but two withdrew for health reasons.

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