Serie A announced it is postponing Monday’s fixture as the Italian league mourns the recent passing of Pope Francis.
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Serie A postpones games after Pope Francis dies
Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church and a lifelong football fan, has died.
He was 88.
“Following the passing of His Holiness, Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A can confirm that today’s league games in Serie A and Primavera 1 have been postponed,” the league said in a statement.
Torino was set to host Udinese, Cagliari were scheduled to face Fiorentina, and Lazio were preparing to travel to Genoa.
The matches will instead take place on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Coppa Italia semifinal second leg between Inter Milan and AC Milan will kick off as originally scheduled.
Football community pays their respect
The Italian Olympic Committee said it will observe a minute’s silence before all sports events this week.
Serie A’s reigning champions and current league leaders Inter Milan paid tribute to Francis in a post on X, describing him as “a man of faith, humility and dialogue who was able to speak to everyone’s heart.”
AS Roma said Francis’ death is “a loss that deeply saddens our city and the entire world.”
“His faith, his humility, his courage and his dedication have touched the hearts of millions of people, making him a moral reference of our time,” the club added.
“His legacy of peace and solidarity will remain an indelible example. Our thoughts go out to all those who continue to be inspired by his values of dialogue and brotherhood.”
The Argentine pontiff was an avid football fan, as he even met the late great Diego Maradona.
Francis also met 2022 World Cup winner Lionel Messi in 2013 at the Vatican, where they exchanged gifts.
“A Pope who was different, near and Argentine… Rest In Peace Papa Francisco,” said Messi on social media.
“Thank you for making the world a better place. We will miss you.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino also expressed his condolences to the late pope.
“All the prayers of the whole football world are with him,” he said on Instagram.
Meanwhile, the Argentina football federation announced it would postpone all of Monday’s matches at all levels as a sign of mourning.
