How the Vatican keeps her papal vote a secret

These should be the most detailed elections in the world.

When 133 Catholic cardinals are closed in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday to choose a heir to Pope Francis, each of them will be sworn in on the Gospel to keep details under packaging for life.

The same applies to every person in the Vatican during the Conclave: from the two doctors on hand for every emergency, to the staff of the dining room who feed the cardinals. All vow to observe “absolute and eternal secret”.

Just to be sure, the chapel and both guest houses will be swept away for microphones and bugs.

“There are electronic hammers to make sure that phone and Wi-Fi signals do not enter or go out,” says John Allen, editor of Crux News Site.

“The Vatican takes the idea of ​​isolation extremely seriously.”

Known blocking is not just about maintaining the vote process itself: stopping the “sinister forces” from an attempt to hack it for information or to disturb things.

The measures are also to provide men in red general seclusion from the secular world and its influences as they prepare to vote.

Catholics will tell you that the election is guided by God, not by politics. But the hierarchy does not risk.

When entering the conclave, everyone is obliged to transmit all electronic devices, including phones, tablets and smart watches. The Vatican has its own police to apply the rules.

“Logic is trust, but check,” said John Allen.

“There are no TVs, newspapers or radio at the Conclave Guest House – nothing,” says Monsignor Paolo de Nicolo, who has been the head of the papal household for three decades.

“You can’t even open the windows because many rooms have windows to the outside world.”

All those working behind the tall Vatican walls for the conclave were heavily checked. However, they are forbidden to communicate with voters.

“The cardinals are completely non -communicado,” said Ines San Martin of the Papal Mission Societies in the United States.

“There will just be a wokes for some specific circumstances such as:” We need a doctor “or” Hey, the Pope is chosen, can anyone notify the bells in the basilica. “

And what if anyone breaks the rules?

“There is an oath and those who do not watch it risk former communication,” says MSGR de Nicolo, which means exclusion from the church. “No one dares to do this.”

This is a different question on the eve of the conclave.

Cardinals are officially forbidden to comment even now. But from the moment Pope Francis was buried, parts of the Italian press and many visitors turned with cardinal hunters, trying to unleash their most likely heir.

They shake the restaurants filled with tourists and gelt-arts around the Vatican, ready to speculate on any observations and possible alliances.

“Wine and Rigatoni: The Last Cardinals Dinner” were a title in La Repubblica, which described the “Prince of the Church” that enjoyed the “good Roman lunches” before the lock.

The reporters then collide with waiters about what they may have heard.

“Nothing,” one of the servers in Roberto told me on several streets from St. Peter this week.

“They always calm down as we get closer.”

The other first place to catch the cardinal is next to the basilica itself, to the curve of columns, which encompasses the main square. Every morning there is a collision of cameras and reporters alert for men in lace and deer clothes.

There are now nearly 250 cardinals in the city, called here from all over the world, although those 80 or older are not allowed to vote.

As they head to the Vatican for their daily congregations to discuss the election, each of them is surrounded and bombed with questions about progress.

They handed out a little in response beyond the “need for unity” or assurances that the conclave would be short.

“The whole idea is that it is a religious solution, not political,” explains Ines San Martin. “We say that the Holy Spirit leads the conversation and vote.”

But the Pope heads a huge, wealthy institution with considerable moral authority and global swinging of everything from resolving conflicts to sexual policy.

Thus chosen by man – and his vision and priorities – have a meaning far beyond the Vatican.

Some Catholic monarchs had a veto in the elections until 1907. Today, votes from all neighborhoods are trying to influence the debate – most clearly through the media.

At one point, Il Messaggero from Rome broke out an alleged front running, Italian Cardinal Parolin, for “something like self -production.”

Then there was a video of the Philippine Cardinal Tag, singing John Lennon’s performance, apparently released to raise his popularity. Instead, it became viral.

In the meantime, a shiny book emphasizing some potential contenders makes the circles by praising conservatives such as Cardinal Sarah of Guinea for condemning the “modern evil” of abortion and the “same -sex agenda”.

“There are groups in the city that try to knock the drum in interest for them,” says John Allen. “Cardinals are aware of this kind that they read the documents. But they will do their best to block it.”

“Is there lobbies? Yes, like all elections,” agrees Ines San Martin. “But it’s not as strong as I thought it would be.”

She claims that this is partly because Pope Francis has appointed so many new cardinals, including new places.

“Fifty or sixty percent of them don’t even know each other. So even if you are an external group, trying to have an agenda, it’s very difficult to even choose your cardinals to get started.”

By Wednesday morning, all voters must be in their place in the Vatican – deprived of their phones and sealed by the rest of the world.

From then on, John Allen believes that personal preferences will dominate politics, liberal or conservative factions or “rattling and pod a public debate.”

“I really think the Cardinals’ discussions are currently key,” agrees Ines San Martin. “A lot of talk a lot for the first time. You never know how inspiring one of them can be.”

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