Vatican accelerates work to prepare Sistine chapel for the conclave

The video, dated Friday, also shows firefighters rising on the roof of tiles to fix the pipe of the famous chimney that will communicate the result of the conclave: white smoke if the cardinals have already elected the Pope and black smoke otherwise.

It is a “fundamental stage” for the Catholic Church, says Silvio Screpanti, vatican’s deputy director of infrastructure, on the official website of this small state.

Oven checks were performed “discreetly” and “in case of need” a technician “will remain throughout the voting period in a small technical room near the sistine chapel, with a remote control of the stove,” he explains, who can now be activated electronically.

In total, five electricians, five technicians and two florists will remain on site throughout the conclave.

After taking the oath, they will sleep in the Vatican, “without contact with their families.”

Some of them have already participated in previous concludes, the others are younger and their most experienced colleagues “will pass them to the future.”