The stage is set for one of the Catholic Church’s most sacred traditions, as 133 cardinal electors begin arriving in Rome ahead of Wednesday’s conclave to choose the next pope.
On Tuesday evening, cardinals will start checking into their Vatican accommodations, including the well-known Domus Sanctae Marthae—Santa Marta—for a night of prayer and reflection before the decisive vote. However, with more cardinals than rooms available, some will be put up next door in Santa Marta Vecchia, typically reserved for Vatican staff.
The Sistine Chapel will once again serve as the hallowed chamber where the Church’s top clerics will gather, locked away from the outside world until white smoke signals the selection of a new pontiff. In preparation, the Vatican announced a full communications blackout will begin at 3:00 p.m. local time on May 7th. Mobile signals across Vatican City will be disabled until a new pope is named, although connectivity in St. Peter’s Square will remain intact.
Meanwhile, the behind-the-scenes staff responsible for assisting the cardinals during the conclave—handling everything from logistics to meals—took oaths of secrecy on Monday, vowing not to divulge any details from inside the closed-door process.
As anticipation builds worldwide, the Vatican is locking down and settling in for what could be days—or even weeks—of spiritual deliberation and global attention.
