Italy’s top football division has rescheduled Monday’s Serie A fixtures as the nation mourns the passing of Pope Francis.
The Vatican confirmed the 88-year-old pontiff’s death on Easter Monday, a national holiday in Italy, prompting the league to delay four matches originally set for April 21.
The affected fixtures – Torino vs Udinese, Cagliari vs Fiorentina, Genoa vs Lazio, and Parma vs Juventus – will now be played on Wednesday, April 23, with kickoffs at 17:30 BST. The decision reflects the profound cultural and religious significance of the papal passing in Italy, where football and Catholic traditions remain deeply intertwined.
Pope Francis, an avowed football enthusiast, maintained lifelong support for Argentine club San Lorenzo, which honored him as an honorary member. The Buenos Aires-based team released a heartfelt statement praising his enduring connection to the sport: “He celebrated every achievement with us with enormous generosity,” the club noted, recalling how the pontiff regularly received team delegations at the Vatican.
Multiple Serie A clubs joined in tribute, with AS Roma describing the late pope as “a moral reference of our time” whose humility and courage resonated globally. The postponement follows established Italian protocols for honoring significant national figures, similar to previous instances when matches were delayed following the deaths of Pope John Paul II in 2005 and other prominent leaders.
The rescheduling presents logistical challenges for clubs preparing for midweek fixtures, particularly those like Juventus and Lazio competing in European tournaments. However, league officials emphasized the decision respects both the spiritual significance of the moment and Italy’s cultural traditions. As the football world pauses to reflect, the postponed matches will resume alongside ongoing memorial services across the country, where the Argentine-born pope’s legacy of compassion and interfaith dialogue continues to be celebrated.
