everything is ready, everything, but the voting. which means there could be a new pope by the end of next week. and the workers attached it to the sistene chapel, from there white or black smoke the first time tuesday evening around 7 p.m. rome time after the cardinal electors cast their first ballots. black smoke means no pope. white smoke signals a new pope. workers with the final touches on the chapel s interior, arranged for the 115 men to sit in long tables under michelangelo s famed painting the final judgment , a decision of which cardinal as he brings his ballot forward. i call as my witness christ the lord as my judge, and the one before god who i think should be elected. the cardinals understand the weight of the catholic church is on their shoulders. this whole period has to be understood, longing and waiting for the whole