Protecting the next conclave’s secrecy from prying outsiders is going to prove more technologically-challenging than it was in 1978:
“Computer hackers, electronic bugs and supersensitive microphones threaten to pierce the Vatican’s thick walls next week when cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel to name a papal successor.
“Spying has gotten a lot more sophisticated since John Paul was elected in 1978, but the Vatican seems confident it can protect the centuries-old tradition of secrecy that surrounds the gathering.
“‘It’s not as if it’s the first conclave we’ve handled,’ said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity.”
It is also expected to witness a strong push for the first non-European pope.
I’m pretty sure there have been Asian and African popes. St. Peter didn’t come from Europe, as I recall.
It is also expected to witness a strong push for the first non-European pope.
Maybe the author meant ‘non-Mediterranean’ pope?
Or the first non-European pope in the modern era.
That seems to be a little off topic, but…
Interesting. We’re reading the pope’s document in history class right now, and apparently they use two catholic, trusted technicians to check the entire sistine chapel.
Wow.
If they cheat, and leave a few on..serious consequences.
Ho boy yeah. Instant excommunication among ‘grave punishments’ from the pope. Of course, if you’re not Catholic, I’m not sure what the pope could do to you short of condeming you pubically…
But I think it won’t be extremely difficult. TRUSTED technicians searching everything. NO use of anything technical (no internet, cell phone, etc) by the cardinals.
I don’t think it’ll be a problem. Besides, whoever posts such a thing would be in….trouble, to say the least. Breaking the laws of a religion (when its this serious) does have consequences from everyone. Anti-Semitism for instance. You think that and…
“RACIST!”
Yeah. So. Okay, so I don’t think it’ll be a problem.