Apr 21, 2025, 05:21 AM ET
Monday’s Serie A fixtures were postponed following the dying of Pope Francis, the Italian league introduced.
Francis, the primary Latin American chief of the Roman Catholic Church and a lifelong soccer fan has died, the Vatican mentioned in a video observation on Monday. He was once 88.
“Following the passing of His Holiness, Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A can verify that lately’s league video games in Serie A and Primavera 1 were postponed,” the league mentioned in a observation.
Torino have been set to host Udinese, Cagliari have been because of face off towards Fiorentina, whilst Lazio — contemporary from their Europa League quarterfinal sadness in midweek — have been intended to go back and forth to Genoa, and Parma have been scheduled to play Juventus.
The fixtures were rescheduled for Wednesday, with the Coppa Italia semifinal 2d leg between Inter Milan and AC Milan kicking off as in the beginning scheduled.
A minute’s silence can be seen sooner than all sports activities occasions this week, the Italian Olympic Committee mentioned.
Serie A’s reigning champions and present league leaders Inter Milan paid tribute to Francis in a submit on X that described him as “a person of religion, humility and discussion who was once ready to talk to everybody’s center.”
Roma described Francis’ dying as “a loss that deeply saddens our town and all of the global,” in a submit.
“His religion, his humility, his braveness and his determination have touched the hearts of thousands and thousands of other folks, making him an ethical reference of our time.”
Pope Francis was once an avid soccer fan who met a bunch of famous person avid gamers, managers and officers. He spoke with Napoli proprietor Aurelio De Laurentiis at an tournament on Might 25, 2023. Vatican Media by way of Vatican Pool/Getty Photographs
From conferences with Diego Maradona to the eagerness for his liked Buenos Aires membership, San Lorenzo, the Argentine pontiff was once an avid soccer fan. And a promoter of sports activities generally.
Francis’ pastime for soccer changed into identified nearly in an instant after he was once elected pope in 2013 when Argentine membership San Lorenzo posted a photograph of him retaining up the membership’s crest.
San Lorenzo, one of the most oldest groups within the Argentine Soccer Affiliation, carried out smartly after Francis was once elected because the 266th pope in March 2013. The crew received the name in 2013 after which claimed the Copa Libertadores for the primary time a 12 months later.
Membership officers traveled two times to the Vatican wearing trophies to thank Francis for his toughen. A deliberate new San Lorenzo stadium is about to be named after him.
Pope Francis was once talented an Argentina blouse by way of his compatriot Diego Maradona after they met in 2015. Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Photographs
Francis met 2022 Global Cup winner Lionel Messi in 2013 on the Vatican, the place they exchanged presents. On Monday, Messi expressed condolences by way of his social media, pronouncing “A Pope who was once other, close to and Argentine… Relaxation In Peace Papa Francisco. Thanks for making the sector a greater position. We can leave out you.”
Francis additionally met fellow Argentine Maradona two times as pope. There was once a distinct target audience in reference to a charity soccer fit in 2014 when Maradona introduced the pontiff with a soccer blouse, emblazoned with the title “Francisco” — Spanish for Francis — and Maradona’s iconic No. 10.
“I believe all of us now understand he is a [star],” Maradona mentioned after some other assembly in 2015. “I am Francis’ best fan.”
When Maradona died in 2020, Francis remembered the soccer legend in his prayers.
“Francis was once a distinct Pope, ready to remove darkness from in his time like simplest the best can,” former Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon mentioned in a submit on Instagram. “He confirmed us the way in which with nice braveness and moved our souls. I will be able to lift his instance endlessly in my center.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino mentioned he was once “deeply saddened” over the pope’s dying.
“I used to be privileged sufficient to spend a while with him on a few events, and he at all times shared his enthusiasm for soccer and wired the vital position our game performs in society,” Infantino mentioned on Instagram. “All of the prayers of the entire soccer global are with him.”
The Argentina soccer federation introduced that every one of Monday’s suits in any respect ranges can be postponed “as an indication of mourning.”
“It is a massive loss in each and every sense, for Catholics and for us Argentines,” Argentina and AS Roma famous person Paulo Dybala mentioned. His message additionally integrated a gesture to these closest to the Pope: “I wish to ship my condolences to the Vatican and his circle of relatives.”
Data from Reuters and the Related Press contributed to this document
