Papal Conclave and Serie A Soccer: Potential Delays in Rome

A significant event is set to occur in Vatican City, impacting Rome and potentially Italian football. Following the reported death of Pope Francis on April 21st, the College of Cardinals is preparing to convene on May 7th in the Sistine Chapel to elect his successor.

Because the Vatican is situated within Rome, the Italian Serie A league has already taken action, postponing matches originally scheduled for that Monday (May 7th). The possibility of further disruptions this coming weekend remains, particularly for one match, as the conclave and the subsequent election of the new pontiff are expected to draw millions of visitors to Rome, creating public security considerations.

What is the Conclave?

Let`s clarify what a conclave entails. It is the special assembly of the College of Cardinals convened 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 securely locking the cardinals inside their meeting place, traditionally the Sistine Chapel, to ensure absolute privacy and prevent external contact until the election is concluded. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote; in this upcoming conclave, 133 cardinals are qualified to participate in choosing Pope Francis`s successor.

The election proceeds via secret ballots. A candidate must secure a two-thirds majority of the votes cast to be elected Pope. After every two rounds of voting, the ballots are burned. Black smoke signals that no decision has been reached, while white smoke indicates that a new Pope has been elected. The conclave continues until a new Pope is chosen. The newly elected Pope then selects his papal name. The most recent conclave, held in 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI`s resignation, elected Pope Francis in just two days.

Serie A Schedule Considerations

While experts anticipate the new Pope may be elected relatively quickly, perhaps between Thursday and Friday (May 8th/9th), should the process extend longer, the Serie A match between Lazio and Juventus, scheduled for Saturday, May 10th at 12:00 p.m. ET, could potentially be affected due to the large crowds and associated security demands in Rome. However, based on current information, there are no definite plans to postpone this match.

Note: The information regarding the reported death of Pope Francis and the specific dates mentioned for the conclave and matches are based on the premise presented in the original text.