Serie A Matches Postponed Following Death of Pope Francis at 88
Pope Francis was an avid football fan who met a host of star players, managers and officials. He spoke with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis at an event on May 25, 2023. Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images
Monday's Serie A matches have been postponed following the death of Pope Francis, the Italian top-flight league confirmed in an official announcement.
The Vatican announced in a video statement on Monday that Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a lifelong football enthusiast, has passed away at the age of 88.
“In light of the passing of His Holiness, Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A confirms that today’s fixtures in Serie A and Primavera 1 have been postponed,” the league stated.
Originally scheduled matches included Torino hosting Udinese, Cagliari taking on Fiorentina, Lazio traveling to Genoa, and Parma facing Juventus. These fixtures have been rescheduled for Wednesday. However, the Coppa Italia semifinal second leg between Inter Milan and AC Milan will proceed as planned.
The Italian Olympic Committee also announced that a minute’s silence will be observed before all sporting events across the country this week in tribute to the Pope.
Inter Milan, reigning Serie A champions and current league leaders, honored Pope Francis on social media, describing him as “a man of faith, humility, and dialogue who spoke to the hearts of all.”
AS Roma also paid tribute, calling his death “a loss that deeply saddens our city and the entire world,” and praised his legacy: “His faith, humility, courage, and dedication touched millions, making him a moral beacon of our time.”
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