Overview

• Approximately 100 Vatican support staff, including cleaners, cooks, and medics, took oaths of secrecy on May 5 under penalty of excommunication to ensure the conclave's confidentiality.
• Cardinals will begin relocating to Vatican accommodations, including Santa Marta and Santa Marta Vecchia, on May 6, with rooms assigned by lot ahead of the conclave's start on May 7.
• The Vatican announced that mobile phone signals will be deactivated within Vatican City starting at 3 pm local time on May 7 to prevent external communication during the conclave.
• The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has called on cardinals to prioritize accountability and justice for victims of clerical abuse during pre-conclave discussions.
• Media and public interest in Vatican City has surged, with paparazzi and tourists actively pursuing cardinals, while preparations for the traditional smoke signals and other conclave rituals are underway.