Conclave: Officials and Staff Swear ‘Absolute Secrecy’

Vatican City: Officials and staff serving the conclave starting Wednesday to elect Pope Francis’s successor on Monday swore an oath of secrecy not to divulge anything about the ancient gathering’s doings.

According to Ansa News Agency, the oath of the officials and staff of the Conclave will take place Monday at 3:00 pm in the Cappella Paolina, Prima Loggia of the Vatican Apostolic Palace. All those who will be involved in the Conclave that opens on Wednesday, both ecclesiastics and lay people, approved by the cardinal camerlengo and the three assistant cardinals, in accordance with the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis n. 48, will have to take the prescribed oath on the Gospel and sign it.

The formula of the oath reads as follows: “I, N. N., promise and swear to observe absolute secrecy with anyone who is not part of the College of Cardinal electors, and this in perpetuity, unless I receive special permission to do so expressly granted by the newly elected Pontiff or by his Successors, regarding all that directly or indirectly pertains to the voting and scrutiny for the election of the Supreme Pontiff.”

The oath continues, “I likewise promise and swear to abstain from using any instrument of recording or hearing or viewing of what, during the period of the election, takes place within the Vatican City, and particularly of what directly or indirectly in any way is pertinent to the operations connected with the election itself.”

The oath concludes with a declaration of awareness that any infringement will entail the penalty of excommunication ‘latae sententiae’ reserved to the Apostolic See. The individuals summoned to take this oath include the secretary of the College of Cardinals, the master of papal liturgical celebrations, and various staff members involved in the Conclave’s operations.

All participants, after being instructed on the meaning of the oath, will pronounce and personally sign the formula before Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, with two Apostolic Protonotaries as witnesses.