On May 7, the College of Cardinals is scheduled to gather in Rome`s historic Sistine Chapel to elect the next Pope. This follows the passing of Pope Francis, also known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, on April 21, which concluded his pontificate. Due to the Vatican`s proximity within Rome, Italy`s top football league, Serie A, made an immediate decision to postpone the matches originally set for that Monday. There is also a possibility that one match this coming weekend could face a delay. This situation arises because the conclave and the anticipation of the new Pope`s election are expected to attract millions of pilgrims to Rome within days, eager to celebrate the new Bishop of Rome.
Understanding the Conclave
The conclave is an assembly of the College of Cardinals convened for the purpose of electing a new pope after the previous pope`s death or resignation. The term “conclave” originates from the Latin phrase `cum clave`, meaning `with a key`. This refers to the traditional practice of locking the cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel to ensure absolute privacy. The cardinals remain secluded and unable to contact the outside world until a new pope is elected. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote; for this conclave, 133 cardinals are qualified to elect the successor to Pope Francis.
The voting process is conducted using secret ballots, and a two-thirds majority is required for a candidate to be elected pope. After every two rounds of voting, the ballots are burned. Black smoke signals that a decision has not been reached, while white smoke indicates that a new pope has been successfully elected. The conclave concludes only when the new pope is chosen, and he subsequently decides upon his papal name. The most recent conclave took place in 2013 following the resignation of Benedict XVI and resulted in the election of Pope Francis within just two days.
Potential Impact on Serie A Fixtures
Experts anticipate that the new pope will likely be elected between Thursday and Friday. However, should the conclave extend beyond that timeframe, the Serie A match between Lazio and Juventus, scheduled for Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET, could potentially be affected due to concerns regarding public security. Nevertheless, as of now, there are no concrete indications that this specific scenario is expected to occur.
Serie A Schedule (as originally planned before Monday postponements):
- Friday, May 9: AC Milan vs. Bologna
- Saturday, May 10: Como vs. Cagliari, Lazio vs. Juventus, Empoli vs. Parma
- Sunday, May 11: Udinese vs. Monza, Verona vs. Lecce, Torino vs. Inter, Napoli vs. Genoa
- Monday, May 12: Venezia vs. Fiorentina, Atalanta vs. AS Roma
Dominic Ashworth