Vatican Enhances Sistine Chapel Security for May 7 Conclave to Elect New Pope After Pope Francis' Death

US • Other • 05/06 21:01
Vatican Enhances Sistine Chapel Security for May 7 Conclave to Elect New Pope After Pope Francis' Death

Following Pope Francis's death on April 21, the Vatican has fortified the Sistine Chapel with advanced security for the papal conclave starting May 7. Measures include signal jammers, anti-drone systems, and physical lockdowns to ensure confidentiality as 133 cardinals elect the new pope. All participants must vow secrecy, with breaches leading to excommunication. Cardinals will surrender electronic devices and remain isolated until a new pope is chosen. Traditional rituals, like smoke signals, will continue alongside these modern security protocols.

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05/06 21:01

Vatican Enhances Sistine Chapel Security for May 7 Conclave to Elect New Pope After Pope Francis' Death

Following Pope Francis's death on April 21, the Vatican has fortified the Sistine Chapel with advanced security for the papal conclave starting May 7. Measures include signal jammers, anti-drone systems, and physical lockdowns to ensure confidentiality as 133 cardinals elect the new pope. All participants must vow secrecy, with breaches leading to excommunication. Cardinals will surrender electronic devices and remain isolated until a new pope is chosen. Traditional rituals, like smoke signals, will continue alongside these modern security protocols.

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A Fortress of Secrecy

The Sistine Chapel, renowned for Michelangelo’s frescoes, is now being described as the “world’s most beautiful bunker.” Vatican officials have taken extraordinary steps to prevent any form of surveillance or information leakage during the conclave, where 133 cardinals under the age of 80 will vote to elect the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

To preserve the integrity of the process, the Vatican has installed signal jammers around the chapel and nearby residences to block all mobile phone, Wi-Fi, and electronic communications. According to Italian media reports cited by CNN and ANSA, all mobile phone signals within Vatican City will be deactivated starting at 3 p.m. local time on Wednesday, approximately 90 minutes before the cardinals enter the chapel.

Electronic Shielding and Surveillance Countermeasures

In addition to signal jamming, the Vatican has employed a range of electronic counter-surveillance technologies. Special films have been applied to the chapel’s windows to prevent drone-mounted cameras from capturing images or video. The chapel has also been swept for hidden microphones, cameras, and other recording devices.

A Faraday cage—an enclosure that blocks electromagnetic fields—was reportedly used during the 2013 conclave and is believed to be in place again, though Vatican officials have not confirmed its exact location. Some sources suggest that jamming devices may be hidden beneath a newly installed elevated floor inside the chapel or near its upper windows, which rise nearly 68 feet above the ground.

Physical Lockdown and Restricted Access

The Vatican has also implemented strict physical security protocols. Lead seals have been placed on 80 doors in and around the conclave site to prevent unauthorized entry or exit. The Sistine Chapel itself will be locked from the outside once the conclave begins, and only authorized personnel will be allowed inside.

Cardinals will be housed in the Santa Marta residence, which has been cleared of all other guests and residents. The building has undergone electronic sweeps, and its main entrance has been closed, with cardinals instructed to use a side door. Wi-Fi signals in the residence have reportedly been weakened, and Vatican gendarmes and plainclothes Swiss Guards will escort the cardinals between the residence and the chapel.

Vows of Silence and Legal Consequences

All individuals involved in the conclave—including cardinals, support staff, medical personnel, and even kitchen workers—are required to take a solemn oath of “absolute and perpetual secrecy.” This vow is mandated by Vatican law, and any breach of confidentiality is punishable by automatic excommunication.

The oath-taking provisions were reinforced by Pope Benedict XVI in 2013, who amended the rules originally set by Pope John Paul II in 1996 to explicitly state that revealing conclave proceedings would result in excommunication.

No Phones, No Contact

Cardinals are required to surrender all electronic devices, including mobile phones, on Tuesday, May 6, the day before the conclave begins. They will not regain access to these devices until a new pope has been elected. Newspapers, television, letters, and any form of external communication are also strictly prohibited.

Even if a phone were smuggled into the chapel, it would be rendered useless due to the signal jamming and deactivation of cell towers within Vatican City. The Vatican has not confirmed whether it is taking steps to block signals from towers just outside its walls, but the measures in place are considered sufficient to prevent any digital intrusion.

Traditional Rituals Continue

Despite the high-tech upgrades, the Vatican has preserved the ancient rituals associated with the conclave. A chimney has been installed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, through which smoke signals will announce the outcome of the voting. Black smoke indicates that no decision has been reached, while white smoke signals the election of a new pope.

Cardinals will vote up to four times a day until one candidate receives a two-thirds majority. The entire process is conducted in strict isolation, with no contact with the outside world.

A Protective Envelope

According to a source familiar with the security procedures, a “protective envelope” will surround the cardinals at all times. Whether walking through the Vatican gardens or taking a break outside, they will be shielded from any external contact. Vatican gendarmes and Swiss Guards will ensure that no unauthorized individuals approach the cardinals during the conclave.

The Vatican is also reportedly using its own drone detection systems and receives regular assistance from Italian authorities to monitor the airspace above the city-state.

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