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The Journal
07-05-2025
- General
- The Journal
'Would put Fort Knox to shame': Here's the measures being taken to ensure the conclave's secrecy
AT THE HOLY Mass this morning in St Peter's Basilica to prepare cardinals for the conclave, the Dean of the College of Cardinals urged the electors to set aside 'personal considerations' and only keep in mind the 'good of the Church'. But not only do cardinals have to set aside their personal considerations, but also their personal belongings. Yesterday, cardinals had to give up their phones, tablets, laptops, and radios. These devices were confiscated and placed into sealed bags labelled with each cardinal's name – the devices will be returned once conclave concludes. Meanwhile, it's deemed that closed doors are not enough to maintain secrecy, nor is the oath of secrecy that cardinals must take. The floor of the Sistine Chapel where the conclave takes place has been altered to prevent trip hazards, but there are also reports that signal jammers are placed under the temporary floor to prevent electronic surveillance. The Sistine Chapel the night before the conclave Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Italian media also reported that phone signal in the Vatican will be cut off at 3pm Rome time, an hour and a half before the cardinals are scheduled to proceed to the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave. While cardinals won't have access to their phones, they are not the only people involved in the conclave. Around 70 to 80 people will help to ensure the conclave runs smoothly, from doctors and nurses to servers and cooks. They are in full-time service during the conclave and stay overnight in the Vatican, without contact to their family and the outside world. Advertisement But while these 80 or so people will lack phone signal, a Vatican spokesperson said the signal deactivation will not affect St. Peter's Square, where the public will gather during the conclave. And while the Sistine Chapel is out of bounds to the public during the conclave, the rest of St Peter's Basilica remains open as usual. The 80 or so people who help run the conclave must swear an oath of secrecy, which they undertook yesterday. Officials and staff involved in the upcoming Conclave have taken an oath of secrecy. The oath, administered by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, was taken by all individuals—both clergy and laity— who will be present for the conclave. This… — Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 6, 2025 Everyone, both clergy and laypeople, are subject to excommunication if they violate the conclave's secrecy. Such secrecy and security measures have a long history within the Church. Indeed, the term conclave comes from the Latin 'cum clave', which literally means 'with key' – it's meant to evoke the image of cardinals being locked away 'with key' until there is a new pope. Meanwhile, Vatican journalists have quipped that the security operation around the conclave would put Fort Knox to shame. 'Even the windows will be sealed, including the shutters, so no one can so much as glance outside,' one Vatican source told the Jesuit magazine America . The Santa Martha where cardinals will be staying is a hotel-like guest house built during Pope John Paul II's reign – it's primary purpose is to house cardinals during conclaves, though Pope Francis decided to live there rather than the apostolic palace. According to Vatican sources, each room had to be inspected, secured and sealed before cardinals could move in for the conclave. These seals are broken once the cardinal-elector arrives, under the watchful eye of the Swiss Guard. Read Next Related Reads Cardinal faces criticism for singing 'Imagine' while his supporters urged to stop making memes The Swiss Guard during the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Meanwhile, this conclave will be the largest in history with 133 cardinal electors – only cardinals aged 80 or under when a pope dies or resigns has a vote. This means there isn't room at the inn for five cardinals and Irish-born Camerlengo Kevin Farrell had to draw lots to see who would reside at the old guesthouse. Cardinals can travel from Santa Marta to the Sistine Chapel ' as they wish, even on foot', according to a Vatican spokesperson, but it must follow a 'protected route '. Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez walking to St Peter's Square this morning. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo A small team of two Italian cooks and a female chef from Africa will keep the cardinals fed, and while some of them may be accustomed to the finer things, the Vatican source said the food will be high quality but not 'luxurious'. This promises to be better than the food served during the conclave in 1268 which lasted close to three years. This conclave was held in the small town of Viterbo, north of Rome, after a temporary relocation of the papal see and the townspeople had to pay for the cardinals' room and board expenses. Taxes had to be raised to finance the conclave and as impatience grew, drastic action ramped up to bring the conclave to a conclusion. The roof was removed from the election hall and the diet for cardinals was reduced to bread and water. It took 1,006 days to elect Pope Gregory X and along the way, three of the 20 cardinals involved died. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Metro
22-04-2025
- Metro
Here's why Pope Francis's ring will be destroyed by a hammer
As Cardinals from across the globe will meet this morning for the first time since Pope Francis died, other traditions after a papal death are underway. The world will be watching Vatican City after the death of the 88-year-old pontiff on Easter Monday, but behind closed doors, centuries-old ceremonies are being carried out. One of those is the destruction of the Pope's famous ring, kissed by pilgrims and used to seal official documents. Ahead of his funeral on Saturday morning, the camerlengo – appointed by the late Pope before his death – will arrange the destruction of the pontiff's ring. The camerlengo has been named as Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, a boy from a working-class Irish family who has risen to become one of the most powerful men in the Vatican. A hammer will be used to destroy Pope Francis's ring, and for a very important reason. Referred to as the Fisherman's Ring, the papal ring is unique to each Pope and cannot be replicated. The rings are designed and crafted in Rome by artisans who are members of the Roman Guild of Goldsmiths. The piece of jewellery is traditionally worn on the pontiff's right hand, on the ring finger, and is often kissed by pilgrims who meet the Pope. But upon the pontiff's death, the ring is destroyed within the Vatican with a hammer and placed in the coffin of the deceased, along with a rosary. The destruction is done because traditionally, the ring was used to seal letters with wax and mark the official seal of the Pope on documents, so its destruction ensures no forgeries can be made. A new ring is cast for the new Pope after the conclave commences. Popes are normally buried in not one, but three coffins – wood, lead and another wooden one. But a humble man, Pope Francis specified that Popes should only be buried in a wooden coffin, lined in zinc and sealed by several Vatican officials. Before the coffin is closed, the Pope's face will be draped in a white cloth, and a bag of minted coins and a page about his time as Pope are placed in with the body. After the coffin is sealed, Psalm 42, which reads 'Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul in longing for you, my God,' is sung. Before 120 cardinals, senior members of the Catholic Church, convene in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave – the secret meeting at which a new pope will be elected – the Church enters a period called 'the vacant see'. Following the funeral, there are nine days of official mourning, with the conclave required to begin 15 to 20 days after the sede vacante is declared, although it can start sooner if the cardinals agree. Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols is among those travelling to Rome. There are currently five cardinals across the UK and Ireland, although only three – Cardinal Nichols, Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe and Rome-based Cardinal Arthur Roche – are younger than 80 and therefore of voting age. Perhaps the most interesting part of the conclave is that the cardinals and employees, priests, secretaries, doctors and more can't speak to anyone until a new Pope is chosen. More Trending Those who work in the Vatican are sworn to secrecy, and security checks are taken in the Vatican to sweep for wire taps and other information which could derail the secret meetings. For each day of the conclave, if a Pope is not chosen, black smoke is released from the roof of the Sistine Chapel. When a new pontiff is agreed upon, white smoke is released, and the official announcement is made after. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: What will happen to the £380,000 Popemobile? MORE: How Pope Francis helped Arsenal complete £16m transfer deal with Manchester United MORE: Virgin Mary statue 'sheds tears' days before Pope's death
Mint
22-04-2025
- Health
- Mint
Pope Francis Death LIVE: Latest Updates on when is the funeral? What is Vatican Conclave? Who is the next pope and more…
Pope Francis Death LIVE News Updates: Pope Francis, the Roman Catholic Church's first Latin American head, died of a stroke on April 21, according to the Vatican. He was 88 and had recently survived double pneumonia. Announcing the demise early in the morning in Rome via the Vatican's TV channel, Reverend Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, said: 'Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.' As per an official statement from the Holy See (as the Vatican is also known), Cardinal Kevin will preside over the rite of certification of death and the laying of Pope Francis' body in the coffin, which will likely be transferred to St Peter's Basilica on April 23. 'The transfer of the body of the Holy Father to the Vatican Basilica for the homage of all the faithful could take place on Wednesday morning,' the Vatican said. More details are expected today, on April 22 (Tuesday). According to a report by the AFP, Pope Francis was admitted to a hospital in Rome in February with bronchitis, which later turned into double pneumonia. He stayed at the hospital for 38 days — the longest during his 12-years as Pope, before being released on March 23, as per an AP report. After leaving the hospital he was to be resting, but undertook a series of impromptu public appearances. The Vatican released his death certificate and confirmed that Pope Francis died of 'cerebral stroke, coma, irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse'. According to an official statement from the Vatican, the pope's body has been laid to rest at the Chapel of his Santa Marta residence in the evening on April 21. The coffin is likely to be transported to St Peter's Basilica on April 23, to lie in state. There is no date confirmed for the funeral as yet, but as per tradition is to be held between the fourth and sixth days after the pope's passing — i.e. April 25 or 27. The decision is likely to be made today, on April 22 by a first gathering of cardinals, AFP reported. A is expected to decide exactly when on Tuesday. The funeral mass will be held in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, where Francis's immediate predecessors were buried. But he asked to be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. World leaders and faithful from all over the world are expected to flock to the city to attend the ceremony and pay their respects to the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. US President Donald Trump was the first to announce his attendance. The starting date of the conclave, during which 135 so-called "cardinal electors" will choose Francis's successor, is not yet known either. But it should begin no less than 15 and no more than 20 days after the death of the pope. The cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel, a Renaissance jewel adorned with Michelangelo's celebrated frescoes, and hold four ballots a day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon, until one candidate wins two-thirds of the votes. At the end of each session, the ballots are burned in a stove by the chapel, releasing smoke above the Apostolic Palace as the world watches. If black smoke billows from a chimney overlooking St Peter's Square, the vote has been unsuccessful. White smoke signals a new pope has been elected. First Published: 22 Apr 2025, 10:14 AM IST
United News of India
22-04-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Hamas expresses condolences over death of Pope Francis
Moscow, Apr 22 (UNI) Palestinian movement Hamas expressed deep condolences over the death of Pope Francis. "The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) extends its deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the global Catholic Church and to all Christians on the passing of Pope Francis, the Pope of the Vatican, who passed away after a life devoted to upholding human and religious values," Hamas said in a statement on Monday. The movement noted that Pope Francis played a prominent role in promoting the values of interfaith dialogue and called for mutual understanding and peace between peoples, rejecting hatred and racism. "He consistently opposed aggression and warfare, and was a prominent religious voice in denouncing war crimes and acts of genocide, including those committed against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip," the statement added. On Monday, the Holy See announced that Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, said that Pope Francis died at 5:35 GMT. The death was caused by a stroke and irreversible heart failure, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State Andrea Arcangeli said. On March 23, Pope Francis was discharged from the hospital after five weeks of treatment for pneumonia. He was prescribed long-term therapy and two months of rest. UNI SPUTNIK GNK
Miami Herald
21-04-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
How will a new pope be chosen after Francis' death?
Pope Francis has died, the Vatican announced Monday, ending a groundbreaking pontificate. Cardinals will now decide whether to continue his approach or restore more doctrinaire leadership. The death of a pope sets in motion a chain of rituals and procedures, many of which have remained unchanged for centuries. They were drafted and refined to ensure secrecy and an orderly transition. Several Vatican officials step into designated roles to certify the pope's death, organize a public viewing and a funeral, and to initiate the process for selecting a successor. Here is what to expect for the period between pontiffs known as the sede vacante, a Latin phrase meaning the seat is vacant. Who takes charge at the Vatican? Immediately after a pope's death is confirmed by the head of the Vatican's health department and the body is dressed in a white cassock and brought to the pope's private chapel, the cardinal chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church becomes the Vatican's de facto administrator for day-to-day affairs. That position, known by the Italian title camerlengo, is held now by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, a 77-year-old American of Irish origin, who was appointed by Francis in 2019. The camerlengo and other officials, along with members of the pope's family, congregate in the chapel for a ceremony. The body is placed in a coffin made of wood and lined with zinc. The pope is dressed in red, his miter and pallium placed next to him. After the ceremony, the camerlengo drafts a document authenticating the pope's death, affixing the doctor's report. He secures the pontiff's private papers and seals his apartments, which in the case of Francis are a large section of the second floor at the Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican City guesthouse used by visiting cardinals, where Francis lived throughout his 12-year papacy. He also arranges for the destruction of the so-called fisherman's ring, used by the pope to seal documents, with a ceremonial hammer to prevent forgeries. What does the pope's funeral look like? The College of Cardinals decides on the day and hour that the pope's body will be brought to St. Peter's Basilica, in a procession led by the camerlengo. The Vatican has said that could take place as early as Wednesday morning. When John Paul II died in 2005, his body was brought to the Apostolic Palace within hours for a private viewing for cardinals, bishops and other members of the church hierarchy, as well as prominent Italian officials. Two days later, tens of thousands thronged the broad avenue leading to the basilica to pay their last respects to the pope, who lay on a red bier placed on a pedestal in front of the main altar. Rewriting the funeral rites in 2024, Francis simplified several elements. He did away with the viewing in the Apostolic Palace, as well as the raised pedestal in the basilica. Funeral rites in various churches in Rome will last nine days, with the pope entombed four to six days after his death. The coffin is closed the night before the funeral. The pope's face is covered by a white silk veil and he is buried with a bag containing coins minted during his papacy and a canister with a 'rogito,' or deed, briefly listing details of his life and papacy. The rogito is read aloud before the coffin is closed. John Paul II's funeral was held six days after he died, an outdoor Mass witnessed by hundreds of thousands. Francis had asked to be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, a church dear to him and one he often visited to pray in front of an icon of the Virgin Mary. When does the conclave begin? The dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 87, summons the cardinals to Rome for the conclave to elect Francis' successor. Within 15 to 20 days of a pope's death, the cardinals meet in the Sistine Chapel to vote by secret ballot. Only cardinals younger than 80 are eligible to vote. Out of the 252 current cardinals, most appointed by Francis, 138 are cardinal electors, as those allowed to vote are known. All cardinal electors must swear an oath of secrecy. A two-thirds majority is needed to elect a new pope, and politicking is part of the process. Cardinals are not allowed to leave the conclave except in rare cases. The word conclave -- from the Latin 'with key' -- refers to the isolation imposed on them, which is meant keep the electoral process from dragging on. During the conclave, the cardinals live in Casa Santa Marta, which was built on John Paul II's orders to replace the improvised rooming arrangements in the papal palace that had previously housed them. How will we know when a pope is elected? To follow how the conclave is going, the curious can look to the skies above the Vatican. After every vote, smoke is released through a chimney that can be seen from St. Peter's Square, where crowds typically form to watch and wait. If a vote ends without a two-thirds majority, the smoke is colored black. When a decision is reached, the smoke is white. Inside the Vatican, the dean of the college asks the chosen successor whether he accepts the job. After getting the presumed yes, the dean asks him the name he wishes to be called as pope. In the sacristy of the chapel, the new pontiff is dressed in a white cassock and red cape. After greeting the cardinals, he proceeds to a balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, where a senior cardinal proclaims, in Latin, 'Habemus papam.' (We have a pope.) Thus he introduces the world to the church's new leader. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Copyright 2025
