Vatican will block mobile communications during conclave

During the conclave, when the cardinals will elect the new Pope, mobile communications will not work in the Vatican. This is necessary so that the cardinals can make decisions in complete isolation from the outside world.

This was reported by the press service of the Holy See.

The conclave will begin at 3:00 p.m. on May 7.

A candidate must receive at least two-thirds of the votes of all participating cardinals to become Pope. At the same time, the cardinals are not supposed to consult with anyone outside the hall in the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave will be held. Instead, each cardinal was given a dossier with photos and biographies of the conclave participants.

Mobile communications will be restored only after the name of the new Pope is announced from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

The faithful can gather in St. Peter's Square to be the first to hear the name of the new Pope. Thousands of people are expected to wait for the announcement.

As a reminder, all 133 cardinals who will participate in the election of the new Pope arrived at the Vatican on May 5.

The conclave to elect the new Pope will begin on Wednesday, May 7.