In a push towards sustainability, the Vatican is reportedly exploring greener options to replace the traditional smoke signals used to announce a new pope. Among the proposed alternatives is a fleet of solar-powered LED drones that would form a luminous dove in the sky, symbolizing the new pontiff’s election.
“We’re aware that burning wet straw isn’t exactly carbon neutral,” said a Vatican insider. “Switching to a cleaner, more modern method could be a meaningful step forward.”
While the idea is still under discussion, some traditionalists argue that the iconic smoke has a sacred, time-honored significance, while others welcome the potential shift, noting that a luminous sky dove would be “way easier to spot than a puff of smoke.”
And if the conclave drags on? “No worries,” the insider adds. “We’re also considering glow-in-the-dark rosaries.”
The eco-conscious move has been met with mixed reactions. Some traditionalists argue that the scent of burning straw was a sacred signal, while others welcome the change, noting that the previous smoke signal method was essentially “just a holy bonfire.”