By Phil Lawler, Catholic Culture - How is this possible? During a conclave the only people present— the cardinals and a very few other officials— are sworn to secrecy. The oath that they take, set forth by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, is both clear and solemn: I, N.N., promise and swear that, unless I should receive a special faculty given expressly by the newly-elected Pontiff or by his successors, I will observe absolute and perpetual secrecy with all who are not part of the College of Cardinal electors concerning all matters directly or indirectly related to the ballots cast .....