Vatican to deactivate mobile phone signal ahead of secret meeting to elect new pope
The Vatican is set to deactivate all mobile phone signals on 7 May, 2025 ahead of the highly secretive private meeting to elect a new pope to succeed Pope Francis.
To prevent communication outside the concave and electronic surveillance, the Vatican also plans to use signal jammers around the Sistine Chapel set to host the 133 cardinals who will vote for the next pope to lead the catholic church.
According to the Italian broadcaster RAI, phone signal will be cut off an hour before the cardinals proceed to the Sistine Chapel to begin the papal conclave at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET) on 7 May, 2025.
The Vatican has confirmed that all 133 cardinals have already arrived in Rome.
The conclave
The pope has been chosen in a highly secretive gathering known as “conclave,” meaning “with key” in Latin – a nod to how cardinals used to be locked in until a new pope was selected for centuries.
Cardinals tasked with picking the next pontiff follow an elaborate process with roots in the Middle Ages.
“The cardinals will have to give up their phones and all electronic devices starting Tuesday and will only get their devices back once the conclave has ended, ” the Vatican said.
Further, the 133 cardinals will all be shut in the Sistine Chapel and locked away from the outside world from Wednesday.
All of the cardinals taking part in the conclave will be in complete isolation and will take a vow to observe “absolute and perpetual secrecy”.
According to the Vatican spokesperson, the signal deactivation will not affect St Peter’s Square, where the public often gathe.
However, Corriere della Sera reports that security has been ramped up throughout St Peter’s Square, with checkpoints at the entrances and the deployment of metal detectors and anti-drone systems at the public space.
The Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is placed under total lockdown during conclave to guarantee complete secrecy. In 2013, during the conclave that elected Francis, signal blockers were also installed to prevent any calls, texts, or internet access.
Similarly, in a statement by the Vatican City State Governorate, the electricians, plumbers and elevator operators who will keep the Vatican running during the conclave will commit themselves to secrecy.
“They all take an oath and will be in full-time service, staying overnight in the Vatican, without having contact with their families,” read the statement in part.
