Technology could threaten the secret of the conclave: this is what the Vatican does to prevent losses

While the world continues Crying Pope Francis after his death on Easter MondayPreparations were conducted to guarantee several buildings in the Vatican city for the vote of its successor. The conclave will begin on 7May, some 16 days after the death of the pontiffto allow mourning and preparations. In the borders of the Vatican Sistine Chapel135 Cardinals around the world will vote who should take the leadership of the Catholic Church.

In the past, the Vatican city and the Italian authorities They resorted to anti -didish technology, electronic inhibitors and ancient oaths to maintain the integrity of the choice. Given the technological progress in the 12 years following the last papal choice In 2013, what security measures will be established to avoid technological violations of the secret process?

Air exclusion area and measures against drones

TO The funeral of Pope FrancisThe Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera” reported that the Italian authorities had Bazucas Anti -drew Hand, “ready to neutralize any drone that could appear” on Rome. This in case Drones violated an order of prohibition flight that is already in force.

The newspaper also indicated it Anti -Didish technology It would be used with terrestrial technology, such as computer interference systems to disturb frequencies e telephone communications. “Euronews Next” contacted the Italian Ministry to independently confirm the existence of these measures for the funeral e If the air exclusion area would be expanded during the papal choiceBut he did not receive an answer at the time of publication.

Two main security equipment They watch over the Vatican: The Pontifical Swiss Guard and the Gendarmerie body of the State of the Vatican City. A spokesman for the Swiss National Guard said that they will not provide any information on the safety procedures in the conclave due to the “sensitive nature of responsibilities (Sus)”.

“Euronews Next” did not receive an immediate response from the gendarmerie.

Technology used in the past to avoid losses

Although some of the security preparations They are current secrets, we can learn from what the papal authorities launched in 2013, when Jorge Mario Bergoglio was chosen Pope Francisco. A Reuters report from 2013 said that the workers placed a false plan on the tiles of the Sistine Chapel, where the vote takes place, with electronic inhibitors to block any signal that came out of the chapel.

At that time, The report states that Vatican officials They also swept the chapel and the pension where the cardinals are housed with anti-interference scanners to ensure that there are no hidden microphones. A “press” report of Italian newspaper therefore said that a Faraday cage had also been installed Around the chapel of Sistina To block the signs of the microphones.

The cage is a screen or a metal container which blocks any electrostatic or electromagnetic radiation that can cross the outside. In 1996, the former Pope John Paul II established rules that prohibited the electronic organizers, therefore the radio, the newspapers, the televisions and the recorders were prohibited.

The rules also ask for the Camarlengo, Temporary garment of the Church, to make “careful and rigorous checks” With “reliable people and technical ability” to ensure that no audiovisual equipment was “secretly installed to record and transmit abroad.

An old secret oath

Another strategy against losses are the various oaths that must be provided. Staff, officials and conclavis must declare a few days earlier To enter the conclave that “promises and sworn … (no) uses any transmitter or receiver or any photographic equipment”, even after the choice of the new Pope, unless “special authorization and explicit authorization” is granted to do it.

A similar secret oath It is held during the first meeting of the Conclavein which they promise of “scrupulous secrets on everything that is discussed in the meetings of the cardinals, before or during the conclave, And above all this refers in some way With the choice of the Roman Pontiff. “

During the conclave, the voters cannot send letterswritten or anything printed to their classmates or outside of them. Conclaves also has access to newspapers While the debates last. Anyone who breaks the various oaths faces the immediate excommunication by the apostolic headquarters.

Multiple does not mean that the process information is not leaked. In 2005, a German cardinal leaked the choice of Joseph Ratzinger As a pope for the German media, who were able to report the elections before the protohodic could pronounce the usual statement “Habemus Papam” (“We have a Pope”).

Pope Francis himself broke the old confidentiality rule With his book published last yearin which he claimed to have been used in a failed attempt to block Benedict XVI, the favorite in 2005.