Officials and staff serving the
conclave starting Wednesday to elect Pope Francis's successor on
Monday swore an oath of secrecy not to divulge anything about
the ancient gathering's doings.
The oath of the officials and staff of the Conclave will take
place Monday at 3:00 pm in the Cappella Paolina, Prima Loggia of
the Vatican Apostolic Palace.
All those who will be involved in the Conclave that opens on
Wednesday, both ecclesiastics and lay people, approved by the
cardinal camerlengo and the three assistant cardinals, in
accordance with the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici
Gregis n. 48, will have to take the prescribed oath on the
Gospel and sign it.
The formula of the oath reads as follows: "I, N. N., promise and
swear to observe absolute secrecy with anyone who is not part of
the College of Cardinal electors, and this in perpetuity, unless
I receive special permission to do so expressly granted by the
newly elected Pontiff or by his Successors, regarding all that
directly or indirectly pertains to the voting and scrutiny for
the election of the Supreme Pontiff".
"I likewise promise - continues the oath - and swear to abstain
from using any instrument of recording or hearing or viewing of
what, during the period of the election, takes place within the
Vatican City, and particularly of what directly or indirectly in
any way is pertinent to the operations connected with the
election itself".
"I declare that I take this oath, aware that any infringement of
it will entail for me the penalty of excommunication 'latae
sententiae' reserved to the Apostolic See - concludes the
formula -. So help me God and these Holy Gospels, which I touch
with my hand".
The persons summoned to take this oath are: the secretary of the
College of Cardinals; the master of papal liturgical
celebrations; the papal masters of ceremonies; the ecclesiastic
chosen by the cardinal who presides over the Conclave, namely
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, to assist him in his
office; the religious staff assigned to the Pontifical Sacristy;
the religious of various languages ;;for confessions; the
doctors and nurses; the elevator operators of the Apostolic
Palace; the staff assigned to the canteen and cleaning services;
the staff of the Floreria and Technical Services; those assigned
to transport the electors from the Domus Sanctæ Marthæ to the
Apostolic Palace; the colonel and a major of the Pontifical
Swiss Guard Corps, assigned to the surveillance near the Sistine
Chapel; the director of the Security Services and Civil
Protection of the Vatican City State with some of his
collaborators.
All of them, after having been instructed on the meaning of the
oath, will have to pronounce and personally sign the formula,
before Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy
Roman Church, with two Apostolic Protonotaries as witnesses.
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