The Vatican will ring the bells of St. Peter's when the next pope is chosen in addition to the traditional white smoke coming fromn the Sistine Chapel to avoid confusion.
Master of ceremonies Archbishop Piero Marini
Cardinals tell the world they have picked a new pope by burning their voting sheets with an additive to make the smoke white. For the outcome of earlier, indecisive ballots, another additive is used to make the smoke black.
"The stove ritual will remain the same but we will try to make it work better than last time. The bells will also ring so that journalists have no doubts," Archbishop Piero Marini, Vatican master of ceremonies, told reporters.
At a 1978 conclave, the smoke signal system did not work properly and watchers were confused because the smoke was neither black nor white but grey.
Cardinals will meet in a conclave, a series of secret meetings held in the Vatican City, later this month to choose a successor to Pope John Paul.