Mobile phone signals across the Vatican will be deactivated from 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, as 133 Catholic cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel to begin the secretive conclave to elect a new pontiff to replace Pope Francis, who died on April 21.
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The Holy See said on Monday that all mobile phone telecommunication signals within the Vatican territory will be turned off to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of the election process.
Signal jammers will also be deployed around the Sistine Chapel to prevent electronic communication, surveillance, or information leak during the conclave.
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The decision, reported by Italian media, is part of a strict set of protocols aimed at ensuring complete isolation of the cardinal electors throughout the voting period.
All cardinals will surrender their mobile phones and electronic devices starting Tuesday and will remain cut off from the outside world until a new pope is chosen and announced.
Cardinals will move to the Sistine Chapel at 4:30 p.m. to begin the centuries-old process under total lockdown.
“The signal will be restored after the announcement of the election of the supreme pontiff,” the Office of the Presidency of the Governorate of the Vatican City State said in a statement.
Though the Vatican will go dark electronically, St. Peter’s Square, where thousands of faithful are expected to gather, will remain connected.
A Vatican spokesman confirmed that the signal blackout will not extend to the public square. However, security in and around the area has been reinforced with metal detectors, anti-drone systems, and controlled entry points.
The Sistine Chapel, closed to tourists since Sunday, has been prepared for the conclave under Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling.
All supporting staff, ranging from medics and elevator operators to canteen and cleaning personnel, have taken oaths of secrecy. These individuals will remain in Vatican City full time and will not be permitted contact with family or the outside world for the duration of the conclave.
This level of discretion reflects the Church’s commitment to the secrecy of the conclave, which has its roots in the Middle Ages. The word “conclave” is derived from the Latin “cum clave,” meaning “with a key,” a nod to the ancient tradition of locking cardinals inside until a decision is reached.
The entire process is designed to shield the discussions from any form of outside influence or premature disclosure.
A black smoke rising from the chapel’s chimney will indicate no pope has been selected, and a white smoke will signal that a new pontiff has been chosen.
In 2013, similar security and signal-blocking measures were enforced during the conclave that led to the election of Pope Francis.
133 cardinals from all over the world
All 133 cardinals eligible and confirmed to vote have already arrived in Rome, the Vatican said. While there are 135 voting-age cardinals worldwide, two are reported to be unable to attend.
The group represents a broad cross-section of the global church: 53 from Europe, 23 from Asia, 18 from Africa, 17 from South America, 16 from North America, and four each from Central America and Oceania. In total, the voting cardinals represent 71 different countries. Among the cardinals is the Archbishop of Kigali Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, who will be voting for the first time.
During the conclave, the cardinals will be sequestered between the Sistine Chapel and their residence at Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where Pope Francis lived throughout his papacy.
They will remain under constant supervision and their movements will be restricted until a decision is reached.
The process of electing the pope follows a structured and ritualized system. Ballots are cast in secrecy, and votes are counted under the watch of scrutineers. A two-thirds majority is required for a successful election. The process is repeated up to four times a day until a new pope is chosen.
