Sports community pays tribute to Pope Francis, a devoted soccer enthusiast, as matches in Italy and Argentina are rescheduled.

Sports community pays tribute to Pope Francis, a devoted soccer enthusiast, as matches in Italy and Argentina are rescheduled.

Top-tier soccer matches in Italy and Argentina were postponed following the passing of Pope Francis on Monday.

The Buenos Aires club that the Argentine pope supported throughout his life is now mourning the loss of its most notable fan.

The broader soccer and sports community paid tribute after the pope's death at the age of 88.

All sporting events scheduled for Easter Monday in Italy were postponed, which included four Serie A matches: Torino vs. Udinese, Cagliari vs. Fiorentina, Genoa vs. Lazio, and Parma vs. Juventus. These matches will now take place on Wednesday.

Similarly, three premier matches in Argentina were rescheduled from Monday to Tuesday: Tigre vs. Belgrano, Argentinos Juniors vs. Barracas Central, and Independiente Rivadavia vs. Aldosivi. A minute of silence will be observed before these games to honor Francis, who served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires prior to his papacy. FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his profound sadness regarding the pope's passing.

“I had the privilege of spending time with him on a few occasions, and he always conveyed his passion for football and emphasized the significant role our sport plays in society,” Infantino stated on Instagram. “All the prayers from the entire football community are with him.”

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal conveyed his “sincere condolences” for Francis in a post on X in Spanish.

Pope and San Lorenzo  

Pope Francis' enthusiasm for soccer became evident shortly after his election as the first pope from Latin America in 2013, when the Argentine club San Lorenzo shared a photo of him proudly displaying the team's crest. He was a dedicated supporter, holding San Lorenzo membership ID No. 88,235.  

San Lorenzo is affectionately known as "the Saints."  

In a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, San Lorenzo remarked, "He was always one of us," recalling how Francis had watched the club's championship team in 1946 during his childhood.  

Following Francis' election as the 266th pope in March 2013, San Lorenzo experienced notable success, winning a national title that same year and securing the Copa Libertadores for the first time in 2014. Club officials made two visits to the Vatican, bringing trophies to express their gratitude for Francis' encouragement. Additionally, there were speculations in Italy regarding Francis' support for Juventus, as his family hailed from the Piedmont region where the Turin club is located. His father, Mario Bergoglio, was also a basketball player.  

Pope and Maradona  

As pope, Francis had the opportunity to meet fellow Argentine Diego Maradona on two occasions. The first encounter took place during a special audience related to a charity soccer match in 2014, where Maradona gifted the pontiff a jersey featuring the name "Francisco"—the Spanish equivalent of Francis—and Maradona's iconic No. 10.  

After a subsequent meeting in 2015, Maradona expressed his admiration, stating, "We all now realize he’s a (star). I’m Francis’ top fan."  

When Maradona passed away in 2020, Francis honored the legendary player in his prayers.  

Lionel Messi, another Argentine soccer icon, reflected on Francis' impact on Instagram, saying, "A different, approachable, Argentine pope. Thank you for making the world a better place. We will miss you."