Officials and staff involved in the upcoming conclave on Monday, May 5 evening took the oath of secrecy, to ensure the integrity of the process to elect the new pontiff.

The officials and staff took the oath at 5:30 PM (Vatican time) at the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, as stipulated by the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 22 February 1996.

The oath was administered by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, and was taken by all individuals—both clergy and laity—and the three cardinal assistants.

“This group includes the Secretary of the College of Cardinals, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, seven papal masters of ceremonies, the ecclesiastic chosen by the cardinal presiding over the Conclave to assist him, two Augustinian religious assigned to the Papal Sacristy, religious personnel of various languages for confessions, medical doctors and nurses, elevator operators of the Apostolic Palace, staff responsible for dining services and cleaning as well as florists, technical services staff and those responsible for transporting electors from the Casa Santa Marta to the Apostolic Palace, the colonel and a major of the Pontifical Swiss Guard assigned to surveillance near the Sistine Chapel, the Director of Security Services and Civil Protection of the Vatican City State, along with some of his collaborators,” the Holy See Press Office reports.

After taking the oath and being appraised on the significance of it, each individual personally pronounced and signed the prescribed formula in the presence of Cardinal Farrell, with two apostolic protonotaries acting as witnesses.

Vatican says that the oath “includes a solemn promise to maintain absolute secrecy regarding all matters directly or indirectly related to the voting and scrutiny for the election of the Supreme Pontiff, with a perpetual obligation unless expressly authorised by the newly elected Pope or his successors.”

The oath also reaffirms the prohibition of audio and video recording devices, under penalty of latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.

“This ceremony indicates the Church’s commitment to the confidentiality and sanctity of the papal election process, ensuring that all auxiliary personnel uphold the integrity of the Conclave.”