Cardinals Pledge Secrecy as Conclave Begins

In Vatican City, 133 cardinals gathered in the iconic Sistine Chapel to officially commence the papal conclave, a sacred process of selecting the next pope. Guided by the directives set forth by Pope John Paul II, they began by taking a solemn oath, promising to abide by the conclave's rules and to choose a leader who would uphold the duties of St. Peter, the Church's first pope.Each cardinal recited their oath in Latin, affirming their commitment to the confidentiality of the proceedings, which includes the voting process. They swore to resist outside influence and ensure that the election remains a private affair, with any written notes burned alongside the ballots afterward. Despite this vow, details sometimes leak following the conclave, resulting in analysis and speculations from Vatican experts.As the last cardinal took the oath, master of papal liturgical celebrations Diego Ravelli signaled the beginning of the conclave with the phrase “extra omnes,” allowing only essential personnel to remain in the chapel during this crucial decision-making period.