Behind the scenes

While the General Congregations continue this morning, so does the work of preparing for the upcoming conclave.

One of Rome's most visited attractions: the Sistine Chapel and the adjoining Sala Regia have been placed off limits to visitors and will remain so until the new Pope is elected.  In the meanwhile, it will take at least five days to prepare these areas for the voting sessions.  Since the Chapel and the Sala were closed to the public as of Tuesday afternoon, that means that they should be ready to go by next Monday at the latest.

When all the preparations are done, the world will see the familiar tables and chairs set in rows and ready to accommodate the 115 Cardinal electors, but what we may not realize is that there is an entire floor laid atop the existing marble floor.  This wooden floor is actually a platform which runs the entire length of the Chapel from the altar to the rood screen, raising the level on which the Cardinals will perch.  As it was first done for the 2005 Conclave, it will be repeated for the 2013 edition so that under the floor, throughout the chapel, a series of signal jammers can be installed, effectively cutting off all possibility of wireless communication within the Chapel.

Similar signal blockers also surrounded the Domus Sancta Marta during the 2005 Conclave, and are likely to be re-installed for this one too.  However, there have been considerable advances in technology over the past eight years, so the challenge to block any attempts at communicating with the outside world are becoming increasingly complex.  It is quite possible that the Cardinal electors will be asked to relinquish all electronics (similar to university students entering a final exam) before the Extra omnes is pronounced, signalling the beginning of the Conclave.

As to the date when that cry will be heard, we may hear more on this score later today.  The final two Cardinal electors were expected to arrive by this morning, and a second General Congregation has been scheduled for today as well.  Presumably this is in order to permit the newly-arrived Cardinals to pronounce their oaths and to get settled.  Once all the Cardinal electors have arrived, it probably won't be long before we know the details about when the voting will begin.