Following the news of Pope Francis’ death, Italian soccer league Serie A is postponing its games.
On Monday, April 21, Serie A, Italy’s elite professional soccer league and one of the most acclaimed leagues worldwide, announced that its games scheduled have been postponed out of respect for Pope Francis, whose death was confirmed by the Vatican earlier in the day.
“Following the passing of the Holy Father, Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A announces that the matches scheduled for today … are postponed to a date to be determined,” a translated version of the announcement read on X.
Torino vs. Udinese, Cagliari vs. Fiorentina, Lazio vs. Genoa and Parma vs. Juventus have all been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 23, ESPN reported. Furthermore, the Italian Olympic Committee declared all sports events this week observe a minute of silence in the Pope’s memory.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at 7:35 a.m. CET at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Maria. The head of the Catholic church, whose 12-year tenure as Pope was marked by humility and advocacy for marginalized groups, was also a lifelong soccer fan.
The Pope, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, made his love for the sport known early on in his papacy. In 2013, he met with Argentine soccer club San Lorenzo, after which the club posted a photo of the Pope holding up their crest.
After Pope Francis assumed the papacy, San Lorenzo secured a few major wins, after which the club transported trophies to the Vatican twice as a way to thank the pope for his support. A new stadium for the club will be named in honor of the Pope, ESPN reported.
In 2014, Pope Francis met with fellow Argentine and legendary soccer player Diego Maradona, who presented the Pope with a jersey — which displayed the Pope’s name, “Francisco,” and Maradona’s number, 10.
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Pope Francis’s death came roughly one month after he was discharged from the hospital for double pneumonia following a 38-day stay, and just over a month after the 12th anniversary of his papacy.
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