Italy Postpones Serie A Matches After Pope Francis's Death

Following the death of Pope Francis at age 88, Italy's Serie A football league postponed all matches scheduled for Monday, with four games—Torino vs. Udinese, Cagliari vs. Fiorentina, Genoa vs. Lazio, and Parma vs. Juventus—rescheduled to dates yet to be determined. The Italian Olympic Committee also suspended all sports competitions for the day, with a minute of silence to be observed at future events, reflecting the Pope's widespread influence beyond religious circles. Tributes poured in from across the sports world, with Serie A clubs and Italian soccer officials lauding Pope Francis for his humility, compassion, and his passionate advocacy for unity and peace. Pope Francis, an avid soccer fan and supporter of Buenos Aires club San Lorenzo, was remembered as a moral beacon whose legacy of faith and solidarity resonated globally. His recent illness and hospitalization for double pneumonia were noted, with his final public appearance occurring on Easter Sunday when he blessed crowds in St. Peter’s Square. The sporting community in Italy and beyond has joined in mourning his passing, underscoring the profound impact he had on both the Church and the broader society.