In a deeply emotional moment for millions of Catholics around the world, Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff in history, has passed away at the age of 88. The Vatican confirmed his death on Easter Monday morning, April 21, 2025.
The announcement sent shockwaves across Italy and beyond, prompting an immediate suspension of all football matches in the country. Serie A and Primavera 1 fixtures scheduled for the day were postponed in honor of the late Pope.
“Following the passing of the Holy Father, the Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A announces that the matches scheduled for today of the Serie A Enilive and Primavera 1 Championships are postponed to a date to be determined,” read an official statement from Serie A.
Four Serie A matches were due to take place, including:
Torino vs Udinese
Cagliari vs Fiorentina
Genoa vs Lazio
Parma vs Juventus
Primavera 1 matches also postponed include:
Roma U20s vs Udinese U20s
Monza U20s vs Sassuolo U20s
Sampdoria U20s vs Torino U20s
The statement did not specify when the matches would be rescheduled.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell officially announced the Pope’s death from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis resided:
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church.”
He praised the Pope for his dedication to justice and compassion, especially for the poor and marginalized.
Pope Francis had been battling chronic lung disease and complications from pneumonia, which led to a 38-day hospital stay earlier this year. Despite his condition, he made a final public appearance on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of worshippers in St. Peter’s Square.
The beloved pontiff served as the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, known for his progressive stance on climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic inequality. His death leaves a monumental gap in global religious leadership.
Funeral arrangements and conclave dates for the election of his successor are yet to be announced.
Stay with GNG Blog for more updates on this developing story.
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