Serie A, which is Italy’s top football league, has postponed some of its matches because of the death of Pope Francis. This happened after the Italian government declared a five-day national mourning period to honor the Pope, who died on Monday, April 21, 2025. The Pope was an important spiritual leader for millions of people around the world, and many Italians are deeply saddened by his passing. Because of this, the Italian National Olympic Committee asked for all sports events to stop on Saturday, April 26, the day when the Pope’s funeral will take place. This request is a way of showing respect and giving people time to mourn together.
The Serie A matches that were supposed to happen on Saturday will now be played on different days. The match between Inter Milan and AS Roma has been moved to Sunday, April 27, and will be played at 3:00 in the afternoon. Another match between Como and Genoa will also be played on Sunday morning. The match between Lazio and Parma will take place on Monday evening, April 28. These changes were made to make sure that football fans, players, and officials can take part in the national mourning and also follow the funeral of Pope Francis without interruption. Football is very important in Italy, but this moment has shown that even something as big as football can pause when the country comes together in sadness.
There were also four matches that were postponed during Easter Monday. These games were not played before because of holiday reasons, but now they have been rescheduled and will be played on Wednesday, April 23. The games are Torino versus Udinese, Cagliari versus Fiorentina, Genoa versus Lazio, and Parma versus Juventus. These changes have made the league schedule tighter, but everyone understands that this is an unusual situation. It is not every day that the country loses someone as important as a Pope.
Pope Francis was not only a spiritual leader, but he was also a football fan. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and he supported a football team called San Lorenzo. This team is one of the big clubs in Argentina. After his death, many fans of San Lorenzo gathered at the club’s chapel to remember and pray for him. The players of San Lorenzo also said they would wear special jerseys to honor the Pope during their next match. The club’s president said they are planning to name their new stadium after Pope Francis, which is something he had agreed to when he was still alive. This shows how much he meant to the people, not only as a religious figure but also as someone who loved the game of football.
In Italy, many sports teams are now observing a minute of silence before games. This is being done in stadiums all over the country. It is a quiet moment where everyone stands still to remember the Pope and reflect on his life. The silence shows unity and respect, not just from fans, but also from athletes, coaches, and the whole sports community. This moment has reminded people that while sports can bring joy, excitement, and competition, it can also be a way to come together when the world is mourning.
The death of Pope Francis has touched many people, not just in Italy, but around the world. His funeral will be a major event, with people watching and praying from every part of the globe. The postponement of football matches in Italy is just one example of how deeply his death is being felt. It shows that even the busiest schedules can pause for a man who spent his life serving others with kindness, peace, and love.
