Book Alleges Security Breach During Secret Conclave That Elected Pope Leo X

Vatican City: A newly published book has alleged a significant security lapse during the secret conclave that elected Pope Leo X as head of the Catholic Church, claiming a cardinal was found in possession of a mobile phone inside the tightly guarded proceedings.

The Election of Pope Leo X, released on Sunday by veteran Vatican correspondents Gerard O’Connell and Elisabetta Piqué, provides an account of behind-the-scenes developments during one of the world’s most secretive electoral processes. The authors describe the incident as a major breach of protocol in a conclave bound by strict rules of confidentiality.

Phone Discovered During Security Check

According to the book, the conclave—held last May and attended by 133 cardinals from 70 countries—was the most geographically diverse in history. Participants are required to surrender all communication devices and take an oath prohibiting contact with the outside world.

The alleged breach occurred as cardinals prepared to vote inside the Sistine Chapel. Security personnel reportedly detected a mobile signal within the chapel. Amid visible astonishment among those present, a senior cardinal produced a phone from his pocket and handed it over to security officers.

The authors state that the identity of the cardinal and his reasons for retaining the device are not disclosed, but note that the episode left him “totally stressed”. The Vatican press office has not issued any comment regarding the claims.

A Dramatic Conclave

The book characterises the episode as an unprecedented moment in modern conclave history, describing it as “more dramatic than fiction”. It draws comparisons to the 2024 film Conclave, which portrays fictional intrigue surrounding a papal election. O’Connell remarked that the discovery of the phone was so unexpected that “reality was better than fiction.”

The conclave followed the death of Pope Francis in April after 12 years leading the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church. Cardinals gathered from May 7 to 8 to select his successor.

Voting Details Revealed

The book outlines voting patterns within the conclave, suggesting that initial expectations of a pope emerging from Asia or Africa did not materialise, as candidates from those regions failed to gain sufficient support.

Two figures reportedly emerged as frontrunners: Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and US Cardinal Robert Prevost. Parolin, a seasoned Vatican official, was widely regarded as a leading contender, while Prevost was less known outside ecclesiastical circles.

During the first ballot on the evening of May 7, Prevost is said to have secured between 20 and 30 votes — considered an unusually strong showing at that stage. Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, widely viewed as a prominent candidate, reportedly received fewer than 10 votes.

By the fourth ballot on the afternoon of May 8, Prevost had consolidated broad support, winning 108 votes to secure election.

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