Serie A postpones video games after Pope Francis dies at 88

Monday’s Serie A fixtures have been postponed following the dying of Pope Francis, the Italian league introduced.

Francis, the primary Latin American chief of the Roman Catholic Church and a lifelong soccer fan has died, the Vatican stated in a video assertion on Monday. He was 88.

“Following the passing of His Holiness, Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A can verify that in the present day’s league video games in Serie A and Primavera 1 have been postponed,” the league stated in an announcement.

Torino had been set to host Udinese, Cagliari had been attributable to face off in opposition to Fiorentina, whereas Lazio — recent from their Europa League quarterfinal disappointment in midweek — had been meant to journey to Genoa, and Parma had been scheduled to play Juventus.

The fixtures have been rescheduled for Wednesday, with the Coppa Italia semifinal second leg between Inter Milan and AC Milan kicking off as initially scheduled.

A minute’s silence might be noticed earlier than all sports activities occasions this week, the Italian Olympic Committee stated.

Serie A’s reigning champions and present league leaders Inter Milan paid tribute to Francis in a put up on X that described him as “a person of religion, humility and dialogue who was in a position to converse to everybody’s coronary heart.”

Roma described Francis’ dying as “a loss that deeply saddens our metropolis and the complete world,” in a put up.

“His religion, his humility, his braveness and his dedication have touched the hearts of tens of millions of individuals, making him an ethical reference of our time.”

From conferences with Diego Maradona to the fervour for his beloved Buenos Aires membership, San Lorenzo, the Argentine pontiff was an avid soccer fan. And a promoter of sports activities basically.

Francis’ ardour for soccer grew to become recognized virtually instantly after he was elected pope in 2013 when Argentine membership San Lorenzo posted a photograph of him holding up the membership’s crest.

San Lorenzo, one of many oldest groups within the Argentine Soccer Affiliation, carried out effectively after Francis was elected because the 266th pope in March 2013. The workforce gained the title in 2013 after which claimed the Copa Libertadores for the primary time a 12 months later.

Membership officers traveled twice to the Vatican carrying trophies to thank Francis for his help. A deliberate new San Lorenzo stadium is about to be named after him.

Francis met 2022 World Cup winner Lionel Messi in 2013 on the Vatican, the place they exchanged items. On Monday, Messi expressed condolences by way of his social media, saying “A Pope who was totally different, close to and Argentine… Relaxation In Peace Papa Francisco. Thanks for making the world a greater place. We are going to miss you.”

Francis additionally met fellow Argentine Maradona twice as pope. There was a particular viewers in reference to a charity soccer match in 2014 when Maradona introduced the pontiff with a soccer shirt, emblazoned with the identify “Francisco” — Spanish for Francis — and Maradona’s iconic No. 10.

“I feel all of us now understand he is a [star],” Maradona stated after one other assembly in 2015. “I am Francis’ high fan.”

When Maradona died in 2020, Francis remembered the soccer legend in his prayers.

“Francis was a particular Pope, in a position to illuminate in his time like solely the best can,” former Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon stated in a put up on Instagram. “He confirmed us the best way with nice braveness and moved our souls. I’ll carry his instance without end in my coronary heart.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated he was “deeply saddened” over the pope’s dying.

“I used to be privileged sufficient to spend a while with him on a few events, and he at all times shared his enthusiasm for soccer and pressured the essential position our sport performs in society,” Infantino stated on Instagram. “All of the prayers of the entire soccer world are with him.”

The Argentina soccer federation introduced that every one of Monday’s matches in any respect ranges can be postponed “as an indication of mourning.”

“It is an enormous loss in each sense, for Catholics and for us Argentines,” Argentina and AS Roma star Paulo Dybala stated. His message additionally included a gesture to these closest to the Pope: “I wish to ship my condolences to the Vatican and his household.”

Data from Reuters and the Related Press contributed to this report