Tight lips at the Vatican as staff take oath of secrecy ahead of conclave

On Monday, 5 May, the Vatican took a major step toward the next papal election as dozens of Conclave support staff swore a strict oath of secrecy in a solemn ceremony held at 5:30 PM in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace.

The oath, rooted in the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis—promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1996—was administered by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. A diverse group of individuals, from clergy to lay staff, pledged absolute discretion about all matters related to the papal election.

The participants included Vatican officials such as the Secretary of the College of Cardinals, liturgical masters of ceremonies, sacristans, confessors, and Swiss Guards, as well as elevator operators, medical personnel, florists, and dining and cleaning staff. All had been approved by the Camerlengo and three cardinal assistants for their crucial support roles during the Conclave.

After being briefed on the seriousness of the oath, each person pronounced and signed the formula in front of Cardinal Farrell, with two apostolic protonotaries witnessing the event. The oath binds them to lifelong silence about anything directly or indirectly tied to the voting process—unless explicitly released by a future pope.

Violations, especially those involving unauthorized recordings, carry the penalty of automatic excommunication (latae sententiae), underscoring the Church’s firm stance on preserving the confidentiality and sanctity of the election of a new pope.