The smallest nation in the world, Vatican City, is preparing for the conclave following the death of Pope Francis, with authorities facing the challenge of using technology to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of those attending the election of his successor.
Emergency and control bodies are also working with state-of-the-art technology, but full details of their security arrangements have not been publicly disclosed.
In 2013, when Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) was elected supreme pontiff, rigorous security strategies were introduced that offer insights into how the next conclave may be conducted.
These include signal jammers to prevent communication through radio frequency interference and the installation of privacy film over windows to prevent attendants from being observed by journalists, satellites and drones.
The Vatican, which is home to an estimated 200,000 people, is shielded by a command centre with hundreds of cameras and armed forces including the Vatican City Gendarmerie and the Pontifical Swiss Guard.
