Vatican Staff Sworn to Secrecy Ahead of Papal Conclave

Conclave Preparations Underway

• ⏳ The papal conclave to elect the next pope is just one day away, with final preparations underway in Vatican City.
• 🤝 In a formal ceremony, approximately 100 Vatican personnel, including cooks, cleaners, doctors, and drivers, took an oath of secrecy.
• 📜 This oath, taken on the Bible, carries the penalty of excommunication for any breach.

Cardinal Secrecy and Voting Process

• 🗳️ Cardinals will also take an oath of secrecy tomorrow in St. Peter's Basilica before the conclave officially begins.
• 🗓️ The conclave will start with one vote for the next pope, with subsequent days potentially including up to four votes if no majority is reached.

Strict Communication Ban

• 📵 Tradition dictates a strict ban on outside communication for the cardinals during the conclave.
• 🚫 This includes no TV, radio, newspapers, or phones.
• 🔒 Initially, cardinals were to leave phones in their residences, but now all phones must be handed over to Vatican officials and will not be returned until a pope is elected.
• 🛡️ The extensive secrecy measures are in place to protect the election from any outside influences.