During a conclave, the participants (cardinals) come from all over the world. Is there a *lingua franca* which they are all expected to master at least at a conversational level? (I am guessing that this would be Italian, or English, or (probably not) Latin). Or are they expected to somehow manage between themselves, though overlapping language capacities? (A speaks Italian, B speaks Italian and French, C speaks French - so after some gymnastics A, B and C can be more or less synchronized). I do not believe they have translation services for confidentiality reasons.

What are the requirements according to Vaticanologists to be considered papabile? If in fact such requirements actually exist. [Papabile](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papabile) is an unofficial term, first coined by Vaticanologists for someone is thought to be a possible candidate to be elected pope. I do not limit this question to Vaticanologists alone, but to all other Church officials or theologians who take into account the possibility of naming someone papabile seriously and gives reasons for doing so, especially now that the Holy See is in a moment of ***Sede Vacante***.

In order to prevent electromagnetic waves from entering or leaving the Sistine Chapel, has a Faraday cage been installed around it?

I was intrigued by this May 2025 article from the *Time* magazine: [10 Surprising Facts about Papal Conclaves](https://time.com/7282265/papal-conclaves-surprising-facts-history/) where #2 is: > **Cardinals will be on a strict diet to prevent secret messaging** > >In an attempt to influence cardinals and establish communication between the conclave and the outside world, messages have previously been hidden in food coming into the Sistine Chapel during the voting process. > >Foods that could conceal messages such as pies and chickens, as well as cutlery and glasses, have been prohibited. Following tradition for the upcoming conclave, nuns will prepare local food such as lamb skewers, spaghetti, and boiled vegetables for cardinals. But the restrictive communication seems to *also* be in effect among the cardinal-electors themselves *during conclave*. Quote from the same article that implies the rule of non-communication between votes: > If a decision still has not been made after three days, a break of up to one day is permitted, allowing for prayer and discussion amongst cardinals. But this process can continue indefinitely, until a majority is reached. While I understand how they should be insulated from outside world (i.e. no smartphones), I don't understand the need to prohibit discussion among the current 135 cardinal-electors. Wouldn't discussion between votes (which I heard is at least 2 times per day) help them to reach the consensus? Or at least one discussion per day after a few rounds of votes? I also understand that there is a deliberate pre-conclave discussions which include the rest of the 252 members of the College of Cardinals, so that the wise input from those not eligible can be in the mind of the cardinal electors for factors of consideration. This is also for the cardinal electors to get to know the view of what they consider to be *papabile*. **My question**: What are the precise rules for communication among cardinal electors **during** (not before) the conclave, and what is the *rationale* for those rules? I'm specifically interested whether there are any restrictions of *oral* (not written / recorded) discussion between votes.

[Pope Francis announced the consistory for the creation of new cardinals](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-07/pope-announces-consistory-for-creation-of-new-cardinals.html) today. The consistory will be held on 30th September, i.e. there is 3 month period during much can happen. **My question**: are the persons nominated to be created cardinals eligible to participate in the conclave? Of course, they are not formally created cardinals, but maybe there are some rules for the election of the next pontiff that specify more details of this and make such exceptions. I am looking pretty much on the prefect-elect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, [Víctor Manuel Fernández](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%ADctor_Manuel_Fern%C3%A1ndez) who may be elected pope in the next conclave if only he is properly made cardinal before that conclave. I am guessing that he can take name John XXIV.

**According to Catholicism, which popes have been elected to the papacy without being in priestly orders?** I was recently reading about Pope Leo X on [Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_X) . It claims that he was the last Pope “not to have in priestly orders at the time of his election to the papacy”. > Giovanni was elected pope on 9 March 1513, and this was proclaimed two days later. The absence of the French cardinals effectively reduced the election to a contest between Giovanni (who had the support of the younger and noble members of the college) and Raffaele Riario (who had the support of the older group). On 15 March 1513, he was ordained priest, and consecrated as bishop on 17 March. He was crowned Pope on 19 March 1513 at the age of 37. He was the last non-priest to be elected pope. - [Pope Leo X](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_X) Do we know the other popes who were elected to the papacy without being in priestly orders?