In an unprecedented measure, the Vatican will deactivate all mobile phone signals this Wednesday, preceding the secretive conclave to elect the next pope, as confirmed by Italian state media. This deliberate cut is ensured through the deployment of signal jammers around the Sistine Chapel, safeguarding the conclave from external communication or surveillance attempts, as reported by ANSA News.
The conclave gathers 133 cardinals tasked with selecting the successor of Pope Francis amidst the world’s vast Catholic demographic, estimated at 1.4 billion. As signal blackout begins at 3 p.m. local time, the Vatican confirms the cardinals’ arrival in Rome in preparation to proceed with this medieval-rooted election process.
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The isolation is comprehensive: all cardinals relinquish their digital devices to maintain absolute secrecy. Though St Peter’s Square will not experience the same communications blackout, heightened security in the area will include checkpoints and anti-drone precautions, as detailed by Corriere della Sera.
As with the conclave of 2013, signal blockers are crucial to maintaining the protocol, effectively ensuring no communications breach from inside the locked corridors of the Vatican. Even support personnel such as electricians, plumbers, and elevator operators vow to uphold confidentiality during their tenure, according to a statement from the Vatican City State Governorate.
