Following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, which marked the end of Jorge Mario Bergoglio`s pontificate, the College of Cardinals is scheduled to gather in Rome`s Sistine Chapel on May 7 to elect the next pope. Due to the Vatican`s proximity to Rome, Italy`s Serie A league quickly decided to reschedule the matches originally set for that Monday. There`s also a possibility that one game planned for this weekend might be delayed. This situation arises because the conclave and the election of the new pontiff are expected to attract millions of pilgrims to Rome over the coming days, eager to celebrate the new Bishop of Rome.
Understanding the Conclave Process
A conclave is a meeting held by the College of Cardinals specifically for the purpose of electing a new pope after the previous one has died or resigned. The term `conclave` derives from the Latin `cum clave`, meaning `with a key`. This refers to the historical practice of locking the cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel to ensure secrecy and privacy. The cardinals remain sequestered without outside communication until a new pope is chosen. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to cast a vote; for this conclave, 133 cardinals meet the criteria to elect Pope Francis`s successor.
The election is conducted using secret ballots, and a new pope is elected upon receiving a two-thirds majority of the votes. After every two rounds of voting, the ballots are burned. The color of the smoke from the chimney indicates the result: black smoke signals that no decision has been reached, while white smoke announces that a new pope has been elected. The conclave continues until a successful election takes place, after which the newly elected pope selects his papal name. The most recent conclave took place in 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI`s resignation and resulted in the election of Pope Francis within two days.
Upcoming Serie A Schedule Overview
According to expert predictions, the new pope is likely to be elected between Thursday and Friday. However, should the process extend beyond that timeframe, the match between Lazio and Juventus scheduled for Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET could potentially be affected due to public security considerations. Nonetheless, based on current information, there is no strong indication that this delay is imminent.
All times listed are U.S./Eastern
- Friday, May 9: AC Milan vs. Bologna, 2:45 p.m.
- Saturday, May 10: Como vs. Cagliari, 9 a.m.
- Saturday, May 10: Lazio vs. Juventus, 12 p.m.
- Saturday, May 10: Empoli vs. Parma, 2:45 p.m.
- Sunday, May 11: Udinese vs. Monza, 6:30 a.m.
- Sunday, May 11: Verona vs. Lecce, 9 a.m.
- Sunday, May 11: Torino vs. Inter, 12 p.m.
- Sunday, May 11: Napoli vs. Genoa, 2:45 p.m.
- Monday, May 12: Venezia vs. Fiorentina, 12:30 p.m.
- Monday, May 12: Atalanta vs. AS Roma, 2:45 p.m.
