VATICAN CITY: Vatican officials were hurrying to contact the cardinals locked inside the Sistine Chapel after purple smoke was seen rising from the stack at about 12:15pm ET.
The smoke stack, which is used to burn the ballots, is supposed to release cartridges that color the smoke black, meaning no pope, or white, meaning that a pope had been elected.
No one was aware that there was also a purple colored cartridge in the mix and are unsure of the meaning behind the color.
"It could be a signal for a variety of things- one cardinal could be in need of medical attention, God could have spoken to the cardinals directly, something could be wrong with the building, or it may have been the result of a mechanical or chemical malfunction." said a Vatican official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, "We are trying to find out as quickly as possible."
Of course, contact isn't the easiest thing to achieve in the conclave. Staff and cardinals are sworn to secrecy, technology jammers have been placed in the chapel, and no communication is supposed to be allowed.
"All we have right now is some oddly-colored smoke and still no pope." the official said.
Another vote was expected at 12:30 ET.
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