The Vatican announced on Monday that all telephone communication within its territory will be suspended during the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. The measure will not affect St. Peter’s Square, where thousands of faithful are expected to gather in anticipation of the election results.
The interruption will begin at 3:00 p.m. local time (4:00 p.m. in Greece) on May 7 and will continue until the new pontiff has been elected and announced, according to an official statement released by the Holy See.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni clarified to members of the press that the interruption will only apply within the borders of Vatican City and not extend to the surrounding areas, including the square in front of St. Peter’s Basilica.
A total of 133 cardinals from around the world will participate in the highly secretive voting process to choose the next pope, the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion members. Bruni reminded reporters that all cardinals are required to surrender their mobile devices before entering the conclave, in order to ensure absolute confidentiality.
The suspension of telecommunications is one of several strict security measures designed to preserve the integrity of the election and prevent any external influence or leaks until the white smoke rises, signaling the selection of a new Bishop of Rome.
Source: ANA-MPA, Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
