Serie A paused its schedule on Monday as Italian football paid tribute to Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88. A lifelong football enthusiast and the first Latin American Pope, Francis was deeply connected to the sport, both spiritually and personally.
In response to his passing, the Italian league announced the postponement of all Serie A and Primavera 1 matches scheduled for the day. Matches including Torino vs Udinese, Cagliari vs Fiorentina, Lazio vs Genoa, and Parma vs Juventus have now been rescheduled for Wednesday. The Coppa Italia semifinal between Inter Milan and AC Milan will proceed as planned.
The Italian Olympic Committee has declared a minute’s silence for all sports events this week.
Clubs expressed their condolences, with Inter Milan hailing Francis as “a man of faith, humility, and dialogue,” and Roma calling his death “a loss that deeply saddens our city and the entire world.”
Pope Francis had a deep affinity to football and was more than just a fan. He was a lifetime supporter of San Lorenzo, one of Argentina’s oldest teams, and frequently praised the team and its victories.
His passing marks the end of an extraordinary period in which the head of the Catholic Church viewed football as a means of fostering community rather than only as a pastime.
For Francis, the pitch was a place where community, compassion, and camaraderie thrived—values he carried throughout his years as pope.