The first day of last year's papal conclave was marked by an unusually long wait for the first smoke signal, as the doors of the Sistine Chapel closed at 5:45 PM but black smoke only billowed from its roof by 9 PM. Speculation surrounded the possible reasons for the delay, including an increased number of cardinals present compared to previous elections and a longer than usual homily by Cardinal Cantalamessa before voting commenced. However, the actual cause was revealed to be an active mobile phone connection belonging to one of the 133 cardinal attendees.

As the cardinals prepared for the first vote, security personnel detected an active mobile signal inside the chapel, which is typically equipped with jamming devices to prevent communication with the outside world. A moment of disbelief followed among the cardinals until an older member of the college realized he had a mobile phone in his pocket, which he subsequently handed over. This incident highlights the challenges and strict regulations surrounding secrecy and communication during the conclave, aimed at ensuring a fair and undisrupted election process.

This revelation comes from veteran Vatican correspondents Gerard O’Connell and Elisabetta Piqué in their new book "Voľba pápeža Leva XIV. Posledné prekvapenie pápež" (The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of the Pope). It emphasizes the importance of maintaining privacy and the unexpected obstacles that can arise even in high-stakes situations such as the election of a new pope, a process that has profound implications for the Catholic Church and its global influence.