Cooks and cleaners as well as maintenance and medical staff joined members of the Vatican's clergy on Monday (May 5) to take an oath of secrecy ahead of the upcoming papal conclave. Could cells grow food for astronauts on long missions in space?

Everyone from cooks to translators to elevator operators took an oath of secrecy at the Vatican on Monday — under threat of automatic excommunication — to prepare for this week’s conclave. Workers and clerics assisting the dozens of Catholic cardinals set to gather Wednesday to begin voting on the next pope had to swear to never reveal anything about the proceedings or else risk the Church’s gravest punishment: religious banishment.