The upper part soccer The League in Italy has postponed its games scheduled for Monday after the death of Pope Francis, who, at 88, recently fell ill and was hospitalized with double pneumonia.
Four series A games were postponed at a later date, the Italian Football League announced in an X publication.
Pope Francis has a gift from Bayern Maden from the FC during a private audience with the team at the Vatican Palace on October 22, 2014. (Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
“After the death of His Holiness, the Lega Nazionale Series A professional can confirm that today’s League Games in Serie A and Spring 1 have been postponed,” reads the publication. “The date of reorganized accessories will be announced in due time.”
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The matches between Torino and Udinese, Cagliari and Fiorentina, Genoa and Lazio, and Parma vs. Juventus were affected by the postponement.
Pope Francis He spent Monday morning, only one day after he appeared in the Plaza de San Pedro in the city of the Vatican in honor of the celebration of Easter. From the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro, he made a blessing on the thousands of people who attended.
His appearance on Sunday came weeks after being hospitalized for a respiratory crisis that became double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12 -year -old papacy.
Pope Francis receives a San Lorenzo shirt, the Buenos Aires football team, while greeting the faithful before the Easter Mass on March 31, 2013 in the city of the Vatican. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
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The taxes arrived for Pope Francis, known as an avid football fan and supporter of his beloved club in Buenos Aires, San Lorenzo.
“Italian football joins the mourning of millions of people after the death of Pope Francis. It was a great example of Christian care and dignity against suffering and was always attentive to the world of sport and particularly football, of which he was a fan,” said the president of the Italian Football Federation, Gabriele Gravina.
“It will always remain in the hearts of the faithful and football lovers.”
Pope Francis exchange gifts with Gianluigi Buffon from Italy during an audience in the Vatican on August 13, 2013. (Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
The former Captain of the National Team of Italy, Gianluigi Buffon, who met with the Pope several times, called Francis a “special Pope” in an Instagram post.
“Francis was a special Pope, capable of enlightening in his time as only the biggest can,” said his publication in part. “He showed us the way with great courage and moved our souls. I will take his example forever in my heart.”
