Who lends oath in the conclave in addition to the cardinals?

Although these days all eyes are placed in the cardinals, there are a group of people – lay and ecclesiastics – that, from anonymity and with absolute discretion, watches for every detail so that the conclave develops without errors.

Nothing that happens between the Vatican walls can transcend, and all the personnel involved in this crucial event must take an oath and commit to keeping the strictest secret about what they live during these days that keep the entire world in suspense.

Therefore, the officers and managers of the conclave, previously approved by Cardinal Camarlengo, Kevin Farrell, and the three cardinals attending, led an oath last Monday, May 5 in the Paulina Chapel of the Apostolic Palace.

Who are part of this group?

As indicated in the Apostolic Constitution The universe dominic of the flockthis group includes an ecclesiastical confidence of the cardinal who presides over the conclave, as well as two Augustinian religious in charge of the Pontifical Sacristy.

They also lent oath in different languages ​​that will be available during these days; Medical staff and nurses and even the elevatorists of the Apostolic Palace.

Likewise, the cleaning and kitchen personnel are part of this group, among which are a group of “trusted” lay people and the religious who manage the Santa Marta house, the daughters of the charity of San Vicente de Paul.

Flowering employees and service technicians also went to this appointment last Monday, and even drivers who transfer the cardinals from the Santa Marta house.

Two officers of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, responsible for security in the Sistine Chapel, also promised not to reveal what they will witness from this afternoon.

The director of Security and Civil Protection of the State of the city of the Vatican, together with part of his team, also lent oath.

Automatic excommunication if they breach the oath

Among the ecclesiastics who are not cardinals but, however, they have a relevant role in the conclave, are the master of pontifical ceremonies, Mons. Diego Ravelli; the secretary of the Cardenalicio College, who acts as Secretary of the Elective Assembly; and eight ceremonies, in charge of delivering to the cardinals the ballots for the vote.

These staff promised to maintain the strictest confidentiality of everything that surrounds the conclave, even after its term. In addition, they will be forbidden to make audio or video recordings. Any attempt to break the oath is punished with automatic excommunication (automatic), imposed directly by the Holy See.

This is the oath:

“I am not promised and I swear to observe the absolute secret with whom it is not part of the school of the voters, and this perpetually, unless it receives special powers expressly given by the new chosen pontiff or by its successors, about everything that directly or indirectly concerns the votes and the scrutiny for the choice of the Pontiff.

I also promise and I swear that I will refrain from using any instrument of recording, audition or vision of how much, during the election period, it develops within the scope of the Vatican city, and particularly of what directly or indirectly has somehow has to do with the operations related to the choice itself.

I declare to issue this oath aware that an infraction of it would entail for me the penalty of excommunication can sentence reserved to the Apostolic Headquarters.

Thus God helps me and these holy gospels that I play with my hand. ”