Counter-surveillance likely for papal deliberations: As cardinals gather in Vatican City to choose the successor to Pope John Paul II, the temptation to eavesdrop on their deliberations could prove too much for some.
The name of the papal successor would provide explosive news headlines and the private discussions between different factions within the papal conclave could be politically sensitive.
So media and government intelligence agencies might both have reason to try to listen in when 115 cardinals gather at the Sistine Chapel on 18 April to decide upon a new leader for the Roman Catholic Church.
Conclave goes hi-tech to stop spies: The Vatican is to place an ?electromagnetic force field? around the conclave to choose the next pope to prevent ?electronic intrusion?. [...]
Under new rules laid down in 1996 by the late Pope, [the 115 cardinal electors] are forbidden to carry electronic devices such as mobile telephones or computers or to use radios and televisions.
[Act.: Hacking the Papal Election]
