09-05-2025
Everything That's Banned for Cardinals Inside the Conclave
Originally appeared on E! Online
Voting for a new pope is no joke.
Before (formerly Robert Francis Prevost) was named the successor of the late Pope Francis at the latest conclave, he—along with more than one hundred other Catholic cardinals—had to adhere to strict rules during the super secretive affair.
In fact, all cardinals have to take a solemn oath to protect the secrecy of the conclave under the penalty of "automatic" excommunication ahead of sequestering for the election, according to the Universi Dominici Gregis, one of the documents used to regulate the papal election.
And once the doors of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel are sealed, with the master of ceremonies declaring "extra omnes" ("everybody out") to usher those not taking part in the vote off the premise, all forms of communication with the outside world are forbidden.
That means cardinals are "specifically prohibited" access to internet, social media, TV, telephones, radios, newspapers and faxes, per the U.D.G.
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To really make sure there are no leaks, the Vatican kitchen avoids serving food such as ravioli, whole chickens and pies that could easily be used to conceal messages.
As for communication between cardinals? They can speak to each other and exchange views concerning the election, though they must "abstain from any form of pact, agreement, promise or other commitment of any kind which could oblige them to give or deny their vote to a person," the U.D.G. notes.
While Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci's cardinal characters in Conclave—the 2024 movie centered around a fictional papal election—are close friends, real-life electors are discouraged by the U.D.G. to be guided "by friendship or aversion, or to be influenced by favor or personal relationships towards anyone" in their voting.
Instead, cardinals are instructed in the U.D.G. to pray for "divine assistance" and vote for the person "who in their judgment is most suited to govern the universal Church in a fruitful and beneficial way."
Per tradition, a majority vote of at least two-thirds-plus-one is needed for a candidate to be selected as the new pontiff. The Vatican announces the conclave's decision by burning paper ballots to make white smoke rise from a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, as opposed to black smoke to signify that the cardinals have yet to reach a resolution.
To see all the cardinals who were in the running for pope in the latest conclave, keep reading.
Pietro ParolinFridolin AmbongoLuis Antonio TagleMatteo ZuppiPeter ErdoReinhard MarxMarc OuelletRobert PrevostChristoph SchöenbornAnders Arborelius
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