To elect their new pope, the 133 cardinals voters – only those who are under 80 years old participate in the ballot – will follow a millimeter protocol. It was Pope John Paul II who, in 1996, in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, recorded the smallest details of a vote which, according to him, was to “Meet the requirements of a particular historical period”.
Located all over Rome, depending on the country or the religious order to which they belong, the cardinals voters are called to move to Sainte-Marthe, the Vatican residence, in which Pope Francis lived, between Tuesday 6 and Wednesday May 7 in the morning. In the absence of sufficient places-the cardinals are thirteen more than the maximum provided for canon law-some will go to a nearby annex called the “old Sainte-Marthe”. This is where they will remain, as long as they have not chosen the new Pontiff sovereign. To avoid any communication with the outside, the Wi-Fi and radio internet networks, as well as the telephone signal, are cut throughout the Vatican enclosure, as long as the votes last.
You have 67.62% of this article to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.