(Cité du Vatican) The cardinals begin on Tuesday to move into the Vatican housing where they will remain time for the conclave, on the eve of their secret meeting to elect a new pope.
Posted yesterday at 11:2 p.m.
More than two weeks after the death of François, on April 21, 133 cardinals voters will meet Wednesday in the Sistine Chapel for an election which could last hours, days, or even months.
They traditionally stay in the Sainte-Marthe du Vatican guest house, which has private bathrooms and a hotel type floor service, but there are not enough rooms for all.
With cardinals from 70 countries from the five continents, this conclave is the largest and most international ever organized.
Consequently, some will be housed in Santa Marta Vecchia, a neighboring building usually used to accommodate the Vatican officials.
They will be able to access their room – allocated by draw – between Tuesday and Wednesday morning mass preceding the conclave.
The cardinals have sworn to keep the secret, under penalty of excommunication if they reveal what is happening in the conclave, and they are forbidden to communicate with the outside world as long as they have not elected a new pope.
-The Vatican announced on Monday that it would cut the telephone signal inside the small city-state on Wednesday from 3 p.m. (9 a.m., east time) until the election, but that will not concern Saint-Pierre square.
The cardinals, who will have to leave their mobile phones behind them at the start of the conclave, will inform the world of their work by burning their ballots to produce smoke – black in the absence of a decision, white for a new pope.
Secrecy
Doctors, drivers, but also kitchen and cleaning staff, all are also kept secrecy and took an oath on Monday.
Cardinals voters (aged under the age of 80) and other older people will hold the last of their almost daily preparatory meetings on Tuesday morning for the conclave.
The discussions have so far focused on all subjects, from the Vatican finances to the scandal of sexual violence, including the unity of the Church and the profile of the next Pope.
François contributed to the opening of the church during his twelve years of pontificate, but was accused by his detractors of not defending the main Catholic doctrines.
The question is now whether the successor of the Argentinian Pope will follow a similar progressive line or if he will engage the church on a more conservative and traditionalist path.
François has appointed approximately 80 % of current voters, but experts believe that they will not necessarily choose a successor who will work in his steps.
