As the Vatican prepares to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis, all mobile phone signals will be deactivated on Wednesday ahead of the highly secretive papal conclave, CNN reported, citing Italian state media.
The Vatican will also deploy signal jammers around the Sistine Chapel to prevent any form of electronic surveillance or external communication during the conclave, where 133 cardinals will vote to select the next leader of the Catholic Church. Phone signals are set to be cut off at 3 PM local time, roughly 90 minutes before the cardinals enter the chapel.
In keeping with centuries-old tradition, the conclave—derived from the Latin “cum clave” meaning “with a key”—will isolate the cardinals until a new pope is chosen. All cardinals have been ordered to surrender their electronic devices by Tuesday and will receive them only after the new pontiff is elected.
The Vatican has confirmed that complete secrecy will be enforced during the process. Cardinals will take an oath of “absolute and perpetual secrecy” and remain cut off from the outside world for the duration of the conclave. The signal blackout will not extend to St. Peter’s Square, where public gatherings continue, though security has been ramped up with checkpoints, metal detectors, and anti-drone systems in place.
Additional support staff such as electricians, plumbers, and elevator operators assisting within Vatican premises will also be bound by confidentiality oaths and will reside full-time in the Vatican without outside contact.
The conclave follows the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21. His funeral mass took place on April 26 at St. Peter’s Square. Following the ceremony, his coffin was transported through Rome to his chosen final resting place, the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, a church he visited frequently during his 12-year papacy.
