# Cardinal Smoke **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cardinal-smoke/299980 "2005-04-19T01:40:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cardinal-smoke/299980/1 "2005-04-19T01:40:39Z")
Is or has smoking been permitted in the conclave ? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cardinal-smoke/299980/2 "2005-04-19T02:10:10Z")
Possibly in the past. I doubt it now. The conclave takes place in the Sistine chapel and I don’t imagine that smoking is permitted there with all of that priceless artwork. I assume that even cardinals will take toilet/smoking breaks and go outside to have a puff. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cardinal-smoke/299980/3 "2005-04-19T02:21:27Z")
I would be shocked also if none of the cardinals smoked. Too many Europeans in that group. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cardinal-smoke/299980/4 "2005-04-19T03:54:19Z")
Not an answer, but I can’t help but remember that priest in Godfather III. Chain smoking holy man. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cardinal-smoke/299980/5 "2005-04-19T13:48:28Z")
Per [this article](http://www.arts.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/10/wvat10.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/04/10/ixportal.html): > [@](#): > > In politics, one would expect the use of smoke-filled rooms to determine the nature of the struggle but, in this case, there is none for the exclusive use of members of the Sacred College of cardinals, the world’s most exclusive men’s club. One cigar smoking cardinal commented that he is appalled at the recent change in the law in Italy banning all smoking in public places, including bars and restaurants. There is a similar ban operating inside the Vatican, but it is usually honoured more in the breach than in the observance. Given that the Sistine Chapel recently underwent cleaning to remove the effect of 500 years of smoke (albeit from candles, not cigarettes), I’d be shocked if anyone would be so gauche as to light up in the chapel itself. But in their private quarters, or during the outdoor strolls which they’re now allowed in the Vatican Gardens, yeah, probably. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cardinal-smoke/299980/6 "2005-04-19T14:01:53Z")
I think there’s a bit of confusion here between the Sistine Chapel and the Conclave. The area set aside in which the Cardinals and their “Conclavists” (the assistants they’re permitted to take in with them) are sequestered is a rather large part of the Vatican Palace. They meet for Mass in the Sistine Chapel, and may or may not be doing their deliberations there – a Catholic with more familiarity on the process can indicate where they meet – but they have individual suites and areas for private meditation, discussion, etc.; they’re not all locked inside the Sistine Chapel proper.