The Vatican is preparing to host 133 cardinals who will participate in the conclave to elect the successor of Pope Francis. Two buildings, the Casa Santa Marta and the Ethiopian College, will be the places designated to accommodate the cardinals during this important event.
Silvio Screpanti, the deputy director of the Infrastructure Section of the Holy See, explained that measures are being taken to ensure the isolation of the cardinals. The Sistine Chapel will be the place where the voting takes place, and the electronic networks inside have been shut down to maintain the privacy and security of the cardinals.
The preparations involve more than 40 professionals, including carpenters, blacksmiths, decorators, cleaning staff, administrative personnel, and accountants. About 200 rooms have been set up in the Casa Santa Marta and the Ethiopian College, with compartments that ensure the isolation of the voters with partitions, provisional doors, and window closures.
Pontifical legislation prohibits contact between the cardinals and the outside world during the conclave. To prevent any external interference, access to the ceremony area will be secured with 80 lead seals, and security measures in the Sistine Chapel will be heightened.
During the deliberations, voting, and the election of the new Pope, the Sistine Chapel will be a sealed and controlled space, with technicians available to maintain the proper functioning of electrical and hydraulic systems. The entire process will be carried out under strict measures of discretion and confidentiality to preserve the integrity and solemnity of the conclave.
