Vacant See: The Conclave Will Begin May 7

In Rome, there is no intention of wasting any time. The Holy See Press Office, in its report on the Congregation of Cardinals of April 28, 2025, announced the start date of the conclave for the election of the Supreme Pontiff. Starting May 7, the princes of the Church will be confined to the heart of Vatican City, in designated and reserved spaces intended to guarantee the isolation of voters and those authorized to assist in this event.

This framework, organized with meticulous precision, aims to ensure a free, secret, and orderly election. In theory, at least, because aside from the jamming of the radio waves that will be installed in the Sistine Chapel and its immediate surroundings, it is hard to imagine that, in the digital age, the high prelates will be completely cut off from the outside world.

One thing is certain for the porporati: starting May 7, 2025, they will have to say goodbye, for an indefinite period, to dinners out and other Roman events. The cardinals will take up residence at the Casa Santa Marta, a modern building erected within the Vatican, designed to offer comfort and contemplation. It is where the late Pope chose to reside, in the name of a simplicity.

From the beginning of the conclave until the public announcement of the election of the new Roman Pontiff, the Casa Santa Marta, the Sistine Chapel, and the areas reserved for liturgical celebrations will be strictly closed to unauthorized persons. This closure, under the authority of the Camerlengo, Kevin Farrell, and assisted by the Deputy Secretary of State, Edgar Parra Pena, extends across the entire territory of Vatican City.

Because the ordinary activities of the services of the micro-state cannot cease, they will be reorganized as best they can to guarantee both confidentiality and the smooth running of operations. Starting May 7, it will be up to the prelates of the Apostolic Chamber to ensure that no outside interference disturbs the cardinals, particularly during their travels between the Casa Santa Marta and the Apostolic Palace.

But much more than in the past, the current legislation chooses to place trust in the cardinal electors. From the beginning of the conclave until its conclusion, they commit themselves to a strict discipline, refraining from any communication with the outside world, whether by writing, by telephone, or by any other means.

This rule, essential to preserving the independence of their discernment, is subject to exception only in cases of urgent necessity, duly validated by the competent congregation of cardinals. The latter may also authorize, in specific cases, certain dignitaries, such as the Major Penitentiary, the Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome, or the Archpriest of the Vatican Basilica, to maintain limited contact with their respective offices, if circumstances so require. 

To further protect the integrity of the process, it is strictly forbidden for anyone to engage in any form of conversation with an electing cardinal during the duration of the Conclave. 

To meet the practical and spiritual needs of the Conclave, certain collaborators are permitted in designated areas: the Secretary of the College of Cardinals (who acts as secretary of the elective assembly), the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, eight Masters of Ceremonies, two religious from the Pontifical Sacristy, and a clergyman designated by the Cardinal Dean to assist him.

In addition to these prelates, there are several multilingual priests available to administer the sacrament of confession, and two doctors, ready to intervene in case of emergency. All are housed in suitable premises, located within the boundaries set for the conclave.

This is a far cry from the conclave that elected Pope John Paul II in 1978, during which the cardinals were housed "roughly," with a basic camp bed and a nightstand in the Sistine Chapel. They had simple drapes placed between the improvised cells to guarantee a minimum of privacy.