Cardinals are swearing the oath of secrecy
The cardinals are now swearing a collective oath to observe “with the greatest fidelity… secrecy regarding everything that in any way relates to the election of the Roman Pontiff.”
The oath of secrecy is one of the final acts the world will see before the Sistine Chapel enters “extra omnes” and closes its doors.
Then, one by one, in order of seniority, the cardinals will swear an individual oath.
We're now seeing cardinals reading aloud the solemn oath ahead of the solemn oath.
Within it, they are promising to keep secret all matters related to the election, and promising that whichever of them should be elected pope will faithfully carry out the petrine office of pastor of the universal church.
We're still seeing images from inside the Sistine Chapel.
Once they are closed inside the chapel, the cardinals must have no communication with the outside world until a new pope is elected.
There is only one round of voting this afternoon, but the cardinals vote up to four times every day afterwards until a new pope is chosen, with a two-thirds majority required.
Each cardinal casts his vote on a simple card that says, in Latin: "I elect as Supreme Pontiff" to which they add the name of their chosen candidate.
They walk in line, in order of seniority, and place their cards inside the large silver and gilded urn.
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