Serie A, the first division of Italian football, have confirmed that all matches scheduled for Monday have been postponed following the death of Pope Francis. It was announced on Monday morning that the pontiff had died aged 88 years old.
Four matches had been scheduled to take place, with Juventus and Lazio amongst the teams supposed to have been in action. The matches will now be rearranged to a later date.
After the announement of the Pope’s death, the league released a statement on social media, reading: “Following the passing of the Holy Father, the National League of Professionals Serie A announces that the matches scheduled for today’s matchday of the Serie A Championship and Primavera 1 are postponed to a date to be determined.”
Juventus, who had been due to play Parma on Monday evening, posted on X: “Tonight’s game has been postponed until further notice due to the death of Pope Francis. We join in mourning the passing of the pontiff.”
Monday’s postponed Serie A matches:
Torino vs Udinese
Cagliari vs Fiorentina
Genoa vs Lazio
Parma vs Juventus
The Pope’s death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, who said: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church.”
He added: “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.″
The Pope, a native of Argentina, was an avid lover of football and once met fellow countryman Diego Maradona at a charity football event in 2014. Recalling his encounter with the Argentine World Cup hero in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he said: “I met Diego Armando Maradona during a match for Peace in 2014: I fondly remember everything Diego did for Scholas Occurrentes, the Foundation that takes care of the needy around the world. On the pitch he was a poet, a great champion who brought joy to millions of people, in Argentina as in Naples.
“He was also a very fragile man… When I was told of Maradona’s death, I prayed for him and sent a rosary to the family with some personal words of comfort.”
