Monday’s four scheduled Serie A matches have been postponed in the wake of Pope Francis’ passing, the league’s governing body confirmed.
The Vatican announced on Monday morning that Pope Francis had died at the age of 88, shortly after being discharged from hospital where he had undergone five weeks of treatment for an infection.
The matches affected include Torino vs Udinese, Cagliari vs Fiorentina, Genoa vs Lazio, and Parma vs Juventus.
All were set to be played on Easter Monday, a national holiday in Italy. New dates for the fixtures will be announced in due course.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected head of the Catholic Church in 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI.
A lifelong football enthusiast, he was an ardent supporter of Argentine club San Lorenzo.
Following news of his death, several Serie A clubs paid tribute to the late Pontiff.
AS Roma posted: “A loss that deeply saddens our city and the entire world. His faith, humility, courage, and dedication touched the hearts of millions, making him a moral compass of our time.”
