All Serie A and Primavera 1 football matches scheduled for today have been postponed after the death of Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday.
The Argentine-born Pope, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died after a prolonged period of ill health.
He had recently been discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he was treated for breathing difficulties.
Pope Francis, who was elected in March 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, appeared before crowds in the Vatican just a day before his death.
A statement from Serie A confirmed the postponement: “Following the passing of His Holiness, Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A can confirm that today’s league games in Serie A and Primavera 1 have been postponed. The date of the rearranged fixtures will be announced in due course.”
Juventus was among the eight teams set to play today, preparing to face Parma at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.
The club issued a statement on social media: “Tonight’s match against Parma has been postponed until a later date following the death of Pope Francis. Juventus shares in the condolences of the Pontiff’s passing.”
Pope Francis was known for his lifelong passion for football and was a devoted fan of Argentinian side San Lorenzo de Almagro.
He remained a registered club member throughout his papacy and once received the Copa Libertadores trophy after San Lorenzo’s historic win in 2014.
