There is a strict confidentiality for the personnel of the cardinals – diepresse.com
The Pope election begins on Wednesday: Translators, drivers, chefs and other cardinals employees are not allowed to say a word about the conclave.
Rome. The staff who will be responsible for the cardinals during the conclave was committed to complete secrecy on Monday afternoon. Medical staff, chefs, translators, drivers and others, like the cardinals, are committed to the choice of a new pope for absolute silence.
The vote begins on Wednesday: After a mass in the morning and a joint prayer in the afternoon, the 133 cardinals move into the Sistine chapel in a procession. The first ballot will take place on Wednesday evening. 135 cardinals are actually entitled to vote – everyone who has not yet gone their 80th birthday. However, two canceled their participation for health reasons. The cardinals choose until a candidate can combine the necessary two -thirds majority, i.e. 89 votes.
Sistine chapel ready
In the past, the cardinals were enclosed in the Sistine chapel until a Pope was successful. Today you spend the night in the Vatican guest house in Santa Marta (see above). In Santa Marta, the election men also eat lunch and dinner.
The Sistine Chapel has been prepared for the conclave in the past few days. The work was largely completed on Monday, as Papstspeaker Matteo Bruni announced. How the cardinals get from their accommodation to the Sistine chapel can be left to them. « You can take the shuttle provided or go on foot, » said Bruni.
Papstspeaker Bruni could not give a number of how many staff is needed for the conclave on Monday. These people, among them also women, will also be housed in Santa Marta and Alt Santa Marta, like the cardinals throughout the duration of the conclave – and are shielded from the outside world.
