Italy's top soccer league postponed a scheduled match on Monday following the death of Pope Francis, who was recently ill at the age of 88 and hospitalized with dual pneumonia.
The Italian Football League, announced in the posting of the X Italian Football League, four Serie A matches have been postponed.
Pope Francis has the gift of FC Bayern Muenchen among individual audiences along with the Vatican Palace team on October 22, 2014. (Alexander Hassenstein/Bongertz/Getty Images)
“After his sacredness passed away, Legga Nagyonale expert Serie A can confirm that today's league games in Serie A and Primavera 1 have been postponed,” the post read. “The dates for the relocated equipment will be announced soon.”
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The match between Turin and Udinese, Cagliari and Fiorentina, Genoa and Lazio, and Palma vs Juventus were all affected by the postponement.
Pope Francis passed away early Monday morning the day after he appeared at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City in honor of his Easter celebration. From the balcony of St. Peter's Cathedral, he blessed the thousands of people present.
His appearance on Sunday came weeks after he was hospitalized due to a respiratory crisis that had developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the Pope's longest hospitalization in 12 years.
Pope Francis is given a shirt from the Buenos Aires soccer team San Lorenzo to greet the faithful before Easter Mass in the Vatican city on March 31, 2013. (Dunkitwood/Getty Images)
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A tribute poured into Pope Francis, avid soccer fan and known as a supporter of his beloved Buenos Aires club San Lorenzo.
“Italian football has joined the lament of millions of people after Pope Francis' death. He is a great example of Christian compassion and dignity in the face of suffering, and he has always been paying attention to the world of sports, especially football, where he is a fan.”
“He will always stay in the heart of his lover, his loyalty of football.”
Pope Francis will exchange gifts with Italian Genluigi Buffon in the Vatican audience on August 13, 2013. (Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
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Genluigi Buffon, former captain of the Italian national team, met with the Pope on several occasions, but in an Instagram post he called Francis “special pope.”
“Francis is a special pope and can illuminate his time like only the biggest can,” his post read in part. “He showed us a great deal of courage and moved our souls. I will carry his example in my heart forever.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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