As the cardinals enter into the Conclave, they swear an oath to secrecy concerning the events of the Conclave.

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Originally, the prosecutor had raised other possible charges of conspiracy, crimes against the Vatican City State, defamation and revealing state secrets (all Vatican employees are required to swear an oath of secrecy regarding everything they see and learn in the course of their duties).

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"We promise and swear to observe with the greatest fidelity and with all persons, clerical or lay, secrecy regarding everything that in any way relates to the election of the Roman pontiff, " the cardinals said under the looming fresco of Michelangelo's Last Judgment.

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