All Italian football scheduled for Easter Monday has been postponed following the death of Pope Francis.

The Pope, who was 88, died at 7.35am local time on Monday. He was recovering from pneumonia having been discharged from hospital last month after five weeks of treatment.

His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday when he blessed thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square.

Four Serie A matches were due to be played today (Monday) as well as a full programme in Serie B, including DCTV live games Sudtirol vs Bari, Spezia vs Cosenza and Pisa vs Cremonese.

The FIGC, the game’s governing body in Italy, released a statement reading: “The FIGC, in agreement with all the federal components, suspends all competitions scheduled for today, from Serie A to amateurs.”

FIGC President Gabriele Gravina said: “Italian football shares with emotion the grief of hundreds of millions of people for the painful passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.

“A great example of Christian charity and dignity in suffering, he always showed himself attentive to the world of sport and football in particular, of which he was passionate.

“His human closeness, as well as spiritual, to the sick, the poor and the persecuted across the planet was his deepest testimony, a beacon that will illuminate generations to come. He will remain forever in our hearts as faithful and lovers of the game of football.”

The Serie B season was due to finish on May 9 but all matches postponed from Easter Monday will now be played on May 13. The play-offs will be rescheduled.