Italy’s top-flight football league, Serie A, has postponed all matches scheduled for Easter Monday following the death of Pope Francis, the Vatican announced early this morning. The 88-year-old pontiff, a lifelong football enthusiast and the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away at 7:35 AM local time at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, reportedly due to respiratory ailments and pneumonia.
In a statement released on social media, Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A confirmed the postponement of all league games in Serie A and Primavera 1, Italy’s premier youth competition, as a mark of respect. “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 date of the rearranged fixtures will be announced in due course,” the statement read.
The four Serie A fixtures affected include Torino vs. Udinese, Cagliari vs. Fiorentina, Genoa vs. Lazio, and Parma vs. Juventus. These matches, originally set to take place on a national holiday in Italy, were highly anticipated, with Juventus and Lazio vying for crucial points in the race for Champions League qualification. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) also announced that all professional and amateur football matches across the country would be rescheduled.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was a well-known supporter of San Lorenzo de Almagro and had a deep connection to the sport. His passion for football was evident throughout his papacy, as he met with numerous players, managers, and officials, including Argentine legend Diego Maradona in 2014. Recalling the encounter, Francis once noted, “On the pitch, he was a poet, a great champion who brought joy to millions of people.”
The decision to postpone matches has thrown the Serie A schedule into uncertainty, with the rescheduling of these fixtures potentially clashing with the Champions League semi-finals. The matches must be played before the final weekend of the 2024-25 Serie A season on May 25.
Serie A clubs expressed their condolences, with Juventus stating on X, “Tonight’s match against Parma has been postponed until a later date following the death of Pope Francis. Juventus shares in the condolences of the Pontiff’s passing.” Parma echoed the sentiment, saying, “Today we remember him with deep gratitude and immense respect.” Lazio president Claudio Lotito highlighted Francis’ universal message of solidarity and inclusion, noting his “extraordinary humanity” and closeness to the values of sport.
The FIGC mourned the pontiff’s passing, describing him as “an example of Christian charity and dignity in suffering, always close to the world of football.” Beyond football, other Italian sports, including basketball, volleyball, and ice hockey, also suspended activities in observance of a national period of mourning.
Pope Francis’ death, announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican Camerlengo, has prompted an outpouring of tributes worldwide. “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church,” Farrell said, commending Francis’ soul to “the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”