Vatican on high-alert and installing jammers to prevent conclave leaks

VATICAN CITY – As the cardinals were beginning their period of seclusion, initiating the ancient rites of the conclave, it was reported that this year the Sistine Chapel had been completely ‘sanitized’ in advance to make sure that it was off-limits to images, videos and interceptions, according to Il Messaggero. 

 In a world increasingly struck by cyber-attacks, the Vatican authorities have ensured that both the Chapel and Casa Santa Marta, where the cardinals reside during the conclave, are completely free of technology. The measures have gone beyond a simple phone ban and thanks to special technology every inch has been scanned for bugs to ensure that no-one except those present in the Sistine Chapel will know the identity of the new pope before it is proclaimed from St. Peter’s Basilica.

 The chapel and former papal residence of Pope Francis have been lined with jammers, which block all electromagnetic frequencies in the case of something slipping through the net. These ‘jammers’ were used during the last conclave but are more frequently used by the British and American militaries during their campaigns in Afghanistan or by governments in prisons.

 Every step the cardinals take is being closely monitored as they come and go from Casa Santa Marta to the Sistine Chapel and from 3 p.m. on Wednesday the Vatican has announced that, “all radio telecommunication signal transmission facilities will be deactivated within the territory of the Vatican City State.”

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