Vatican's mobile phone shutdown for secret pope election

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On Wednesday, the mobile network will be deactivated in the Vatican to ensure confidentiality during the compliance for the papal election. 133 cardinals emit their devices to protect absolute confidentiality.
On Wednesday, the mobile network will be deactivated in the Vatican to ensure confidentiality during the compliance for the papal election. 133 cardinals emit their devices to protect absolute confidentiality. (Symbolbild/DNAT)

On Wednesday, all mobile phone and communication signals will be switched off in the Vatican before the highly secret conclave takes place to choose the next Pope, as Italian state media reported. In addition, the Vatican plans to use the Sistine Chapel of signal interferers to prevent electronic monitoring or communication outside of the conclave. This conclave will bring together 133 cardinals that will vote on who will follow Pope Francis and lead the global 1.4 billion Catholics.

signal shutdown and safety measures

According to reports from the Italian state broadcaster Rai, the mobile phone connection will be interrupted on Wednesday at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET), an hour and a half before the cardinals go to the Sistine chapel to start with the pope election. All 133 cardinals that compete with Francis' successors have already arrived in Rome, as the Vatican confirmed on Monday.

The secret of the conclave

For centuries, the guide of the Catholic Church has been chosen in an extremely secret meeting, which is referred to as the “conclave”, which means “with key” on Latin - an indication that the cardinals were previously included until a new pope was chosen. The cardinals that are commissioned to choose the next Pope follow a complex process, whose roots go back to the Middle Ages.

complete isolation of the cardinals

The cardinals have to hand in their phones and all electronic devices from Tuesday and only get their devices back after the conclusion ended, according to a spokesman for the Vatican. From Wednesday, the cardinals will be trapped in the Sistine chapel and isolated from the rest of the world. All participants in the conclave undergo an oath for "absolute and permanent secrecy".

reinforced safety precautions

The shutdown of the mobile phone signals will not affect St. Peter's Square, where the public is often gathered, according to the spokesman. However, the safety precautions on St. Peter's Square were increased, with control points at the inputs and the installation of metal detectors and anti-drone systems in this public space.

data protection also for the personnel

The Sistine chapel is under total lockdown during the complaint to ensure complete confidentiality. Also in 2013, during the conclusion that Francis chose, signal blockers were installed to prevent calls, texts and internet access. Even the electricians, plumbers and elevator operators who keep the Vatican into operation during the compliance are committed to confidentiality.

"Everyone does an oath and are in the full -time service, spend the nights in the Vatican without being in touch with their families," according to a statement by the governor's authority of the Vatican State.