Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the first pontiff from Latin America, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed on Monday.
His death has sent waves of mourning across the religious, political, and sporting worlds.
Accordingly, in Italy, all sports fixtures have been postponed in tribute to the late pontiff.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis served as the spiritual leader of more than 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.
He was widely respected for his advocacy for the poor, commitment to interfaith dialogue, and progressive stances on climate change and social justice.
Pope Francis’ humility and warmth made him a beloved figure far beyond the Church — including in the world of football, a sport he passionately followed all his life.
In a video statement released by the Vatican, the Holy See described the Pope’s passing as “a moment of deep sorrow for the Catholic Church and the global community.”
Meanwhile, flags at the Vatican were lowered to half-mast, and bells tolled at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Serie A Suspends Matches
In a mark of national respect, Lega Serie A announced the immediate postponement of all scheduled fixtures on Monday, including matches in both the Serie A and Primavera 1 youth league.
“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,” read the official statement.
“The date of the rearranged fixtures will be announced in due course.”
The following matches were set to take place:
Torino vs. Udinese
Cagliari vs. Fiorentina
Genoa vs. Lazio
Parma vs. Juventus
Football Community Pays Tribute
Clubs across Italy paused to pay heartfelt tributes to the late Pope.
Black armbands, moments of silence, and ceremonial tributes are likely to be seen once league play resumes.
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