Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Serie A Fixtures Postponed Following Death of Pope Francis
Italian football’s Serie A has announced the postponement of all Monday matches as a mark of respect following the death of Pope Francis. The passing of the pontiff was announced earlier today at the age of 88. The scheduled Serie A games will be rescheduled for a later date.
Matches Affected by Postponement
Four Serie A fixtures were originally slated for today, including matches featuring prominent teams such as Juventus and Lazio. These games will now be played at a future time, yet to be determined.
- Torino vs Udinese
- Cagliari vs Fiorentina
- Genoa vs Lazio
- Parma vs Juventus
League Statement on Postponement
Shortly after the announcement of the Pope’s death, Serie A released an official statement via social media. The statement conveyed that “Following the demise of the Holy Father, the National League of Professionals Serie A communicates that the matches programmed for today’s matchday of the Serie A Championship and Primavera 1 are deferred to a date to be defined.”
Juventus Expresses Condolences
Juventus, who were scheduled to face Parma on Monday evening, communicated on X (formerly Twitter): “Tonight’s fixture has been postponed until further notice due to the death of Pope Francis. We join in mourning the loss of the pontiff.”
Vatican Official’s Announcement
Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, officially announced the death of Pope Francis, stating: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to serving the Lord and his Church.”
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Cardinal Ferrell further added, “He instructed us to embody the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, bravery, and universal affection, particularly for those most impoverished and marginalized. With profound gratitude for his exemplary life as a true follower of the Lord Jesus, we entrust the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God.”
Pope Francis’s Fondness for Football
The Pope, originally from Argentina, was known to be a passionate football enthusiast. He famously met fellow Argentinian football icon Diego Maradona at a charity football event in 2014. In a past interview, reflecting on his encounter with Maradona, he stated: “I met Diego Armando Maradona during a Match for Peace in 2014. I fondly recall Diego’s contributions to Scholas Occurrentes, the Foundation dedicated to assisting those in need globally. On the field, he was a poet, an exceptional champion who brought joy to countless individuals in Argentina and Naples.”
He further remarked, “He was, however, also a very vulnerable individual… Upon learning of Maradona’s passing, I prayed for him and sent a rosary to his family, along with personal words of solace.”