Vatican City (AP) – Workers in Vatican City have established a basic stove in the Sistine Chapel and begun preparations to prevent any electronic interference during the upcoming conclave. This includes measures for burning the votes that are cast during the election of the new pope.
On Saturday, the Holy See shared a video highlighting the setup for the May 7th Conclave. The footage featured workers assembling simple wooden tables where Cardinals will gather to vote, along with ramps that lead to the main seating area for the wheelchair-bound Cardinal.
Silvio Screpanti, an engineer overseeing the project, mentioned that all electronic sensors installed in the Sistine Chapel in recent years have been disabled to safeguard its valuable frescoes. These efforts are part of the technical preparations aimed at ensuring secrecy during the conclave and preventing cardinals from communicating with those outside.
In the coming days, all windows of the Apostolic Palace facing the Sistine Chapel will be darkened. On the eve of the first vote, around 80 seals will be placed around the space where the Cardinals will reside, ensuring privacy from the outside world.
On Friday, firefighters installed chimneys on the chapel roof to produce smoke signals that will indicate whether a pope has been elected.
These preparations coincide with the solemn pageantry of the Conclave set to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21st at the age of 88.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni refuted reports that Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a prominent candidate, had health issues earlier in the week that required medical attention. Such claims circulated in several Italian media outlets and were picked up by some conservative U.S. sites.
Amid the intense political maneuvering of the Conclave, rumors about a candidate’s health often arise as factions vie for influence over the election process. Francis himself faced scrutiny during the 2013 conclave regarding his health after a cardinal raised concerns about his lung capacity, which led to further discussions about his medical history.
Bruni confirmed that two elector cardinals will not participate due to health reasons, reducing the total number of voting cardinals to 133. Cardinal Antonio Canizares, the retired Archbishop of Valencia, and the retired Archbishop of Nairobi, John New, are among those absent, as two others have yet to arrive in Rome.
The Vatican has indicated that all Cardinals should arrive at the Domus Santa Marta or nearby residences between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. They will engage in Mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral and listen to a meditation before casting their votes.
If no candidate achieves the necessary two-thirds majority in the initial vote, the ballots will be burned, producing black smoke to signal that the Pope has not yet been elected.
Cardinals will return to their residences at night and reconvene in the Sistine Chapel for further voting sessions. Preparations are also in the works for a less formal session where the Cardinals can discuss the future needs of the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Jean Paul Vesco from Algeria expressed that the Cardinals are feeling pressure to choose a new Pope but are not entirely prepared yet. He noted the need for more time in prayer and reflection before making a decision.
Cardinal William Go from Singapore acknowledged the legacy of Pope Francis while emphasizing that the next Pope must be someone capable of succeeding in challenging times.
