Serie A Postpones Match After Pope Francis Dies At The Age Of 88

Gianluigi Buffon and Pope Francis are very concerned about football (Instagram/@azzurri).

JAKARTA - Serie A match on Monday, April 21, 2025, was postponed following Pope Francis' death.

"Fransiskus, leader of the World Catholic Church and big football fan, has passed away. He died at the age of 88," the Vatican said in a video on Monday, April 21, 2025.

"After the death of His Majesty, Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A can confirm that today's league matches in Serie A and Primavera 1 have been postponed," the league said in a statement.

There are several Serie A matches that should have been held on Monday, April 21, 2025, local time.

Torino is scheduled to host Udinese, Cagliari is scheduled to face Fiorentina. Meanwhile, Lazio - who recently experienced disappointment in the Europa League quarter-finals in the middle of the week - should have traveled to Genoa. Finally, Parma is scheduled to play against Juventus.

The match has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Italy time, with the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg between Inter Milan and AC Milan starting on schedule.

Meanwhile, the Italian Olympic Committee (NOC Italia) said there would be a moment of silence before all sporting events this week.

Despite the policies of league operators and NOC Indonesia, condolences continued to flow rapidly accompanying Pope Francis' departure.

Defending Serie A champion and current league leader Inter Milan paid tribute to Pope Francis in an upload on X describing him as "a man of faith, humility, and dialogue who can touch everyone's heart".

AS Roma described Pope Francis' death as "a very sad loss to our city and the rest of the world".

"The faith, humility, courage, and dedication have touched the hearts of millions of people, making them a moral reference in our time," continued the Giallorossi statement.

In Italy, prayers from footballers accompany the departure of Pope Francis, both from players from the Piza Country and players from Argentina.

"Fransiscus is a special Pope, able to illuminate his time as can only be done by the greatest."

"He shows us a way with great courage and moves our souls. I will always remember his example in my heart," former Italian captain Gianluigi Buffon said in an Instagram post.

"This is a huge loss in every way, for Catholics and for us Argentine."

"I would like to extend my condolences to the Vatican and his family," said Argentina and AS Roma star Paulo Dybala.

The President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, also said that he was deeply saddened by Pope Francis' death.

"I was lucky enough to spend time with him on several occasions. He has always shown his enthusiasm for football and emphasized the important role of our sport in society,"

"All prayers from all over the world of football accompany it," Infantino said on Instagram.

Love for Football

From meeting Diego Maradona to his love for his favorite Buenos Aires club, San Lorenzo, the Argentine whale is a big fan of football and a sports promoter in general.

Pope Francis' love for football was discovered shortly after he was elected Pope in 2013 when Argentine club San Lorenzo posted a photo of himself lifting the club's emblem.

San Lorenzo, one of the oldest teams in the Argentine Football Association (AFA), performed well after Pope Francis was elected 266th Pope in March 2013. The team won the title in 2013 and later claimed Copa Libertadores for the first time a year later.

Club officials traveled twice to the Vatican while carrying trophies to thank Pope Francis for his support. San Lorenzo's new stadium is planned to use his name.

Not only that, Pope Francis met with Argentina's 2022 World Cup winner, Lionel Messi, in 2013 at the Vatican, where they exchanged gifts.

Messi also expressed his condolences through his social media.

"A different Pope, close, and Argentina. Rest in peace, Papa Francisco. Thank you for making the world a better place. We will miss you," wrote Messi.

Pope Francis also met Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, twice as Pope.

There was a special audience related to a charity football match in 2014 when Maradona gave the Pope a football shirt, decorated with the name "France" - Spanish for Francis - and the iconic back number 10 Maradona.

"I think we all now realize that he is a (star). I am a big fan of Francis," Maradona said after another meeting in 2015.

When Maradona passed away in 2020, Pope Francis remembers the football legend in his prayer.

Meanwhile, the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) also issued a similar appeal announcing that all matches on Monday, April 21, 2025, at all levels would be postponed "as a state of mourning".