Monday’s scheduled Serie A fixtures have been postponed following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away aged 88 earlier in the day, prompting mourning across Italy and the wider Catholic world.
The Vatican confirmed the Pope’s passing on Monday morning. He had recently been discharged from hospital after five weeks of treatment for a serious infection. The Argentinian-born Pope, known for his humility and progressive views, was elected in 2013 to succeed Pope Benedict XVI.
Four top-flight matches — Torino v Udinese, Cagliari v Fiorentina, Genoa v Lazio, and Parma v Juventus — were set to take place on Easter Monday, a national holiday in Italy. The Lega Serie A confirmed that the matches will be rescheduled at a later date.
Pope Francis was an avid football fan and a lifelong supporter of Argentine side San Lorenzo. His passion for the sport was well known, and over the years, he welcomed several footballers and teams to the Vatican.
In the wake of his death, tributes poured in from across Italian football. Clubs and officials shared messages of condolence and respect for a spiritual leader they described as a global figure of unity and compassion.
AS Roma issued a statement saying: “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 Italian Football Federation is expected to announce a national moment of silence in honour of the late Pope ahead of all upcoming fixtures.
