With the world mourning the death of Pope Francis, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has officially ordered the postponement of all fixtures from Serie A and Serie B, right down to the amateur leagues.  

Pope Francis was the face of the Roman Catholic faith for 12 years. Hailing from Argentina, the 88-year-old was also a passionate football fan.

Born in Buenos Aires in 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio made known his allegiance to San Lorenzo, becoming an official member in 2008, five years before his Vatican tenure began. When he became Latin America’s first Pope, Los Santos congratulated him on their social media platforms.

During his first year as Pope, San Lorenzo won the Argentinian League (Primera) and the Copa Libertadores a year later in 2014, when they beat Nacional at the Estadio Pedro Bidegain.

Of course, Argentina won their first FIFA World Cup since 1986 during Pope Francis’ reign, a glorious 2022 trophy sandwiched between two Copa America titles.

Football and Faith

Over the years, many football clubs, including Bayern Munich, Tigres, Celtic and AS Roma, stopped by The Holy See, located next to the buzzing Roman districts of Prati and Trastevere, to donate memorabilia.

In 2016, Pope Francis played an essential part in raising money for the affected families of the Amatrice earthquake when San Lorenzo met Luciano Spalletti and Francesco Totti’s Roma in a friendly at the Stadio Olimpico.

Over the years, Pope Francis liked to get acquainted through football banter. Professor Anna Rowlands, who spent two years seconded to the Vatican during his papacy, told PA News Agency that the late Pope burst out laughing when she admitted she was a Manchester United supporter.

“He wanted to know what football team I supported, and I said that I was from Manchester, and so I was a genuine, bona fide Mancunian, Manchester United fan by origin, to which he just sort of roared laughing and turned to his aide and said, ‘you see, she must have a sense of humour’.

“And that was the first extended conversation I’d ever had with him. So his nature was to tease you slightly and to be good-humoured and find a point of human connection with you.”

Pope Francis was not the only pontiff who appreciated the beautiful game. Turning back the clock, Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) was a Bavarian who enjoyed a Bayern Munich victory.

Of course, residing in Vatican City, it would have been a cardinal sin for any Pope to declare their support for an Italian club.

Pope John Paul II had ties to Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund, held Barcelona FC membership, and was rumoured to be a Fulham fan, although later debunked by The Guardian. Raised 30 miles from Krakow, the Polish Pope only had eyes for local Ekstraklasa club KS Cracovia and Liverpool FC.

Born Karol Józef Wojtyła, Pope John Paul II is still celebrated in Italy for his 26-year tenure and immortalised in Bari. The Pugliese city renamed their airport to Aeroporto Internazionale di Bari-Karol Wojtyla in his honour.