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Sports world observes moment of silence following Pope's death

22.04.2025 12:45
The passing of the head of the Catholic Church has deeply impacted both sports fans and athletes.
Pope Francis blesses a fan of Italian soccer club SS Lazio during a papal audience for athletes and supporters of the sports club SS Lazio in Paul VI Hall, Vatican City, 07 May 2015 (reissued 21 April 2025). The head of the Catholic Church died on 21 April 2025 at the age of 88.
Pope Francis blesses a fan of Italian soccer club SS Lazio during a papal audience for athletes and supporters of the sports club SS Lazio in Paul VI Hall, Vatican City, 07 May 2015 (reissued 21 April 2025). The head of the Catholic Church died on 21 April 2025 at the age of 88.Photo: MAURIZIO BRAMBATT/PAP/EPA

In response to the situation in the Vatican, the 29th round of PKO Bank Polski Ekstraklasa matches in Poland will begin with a moment of silence, as announced on platform X.

Similarly, the remaining games of the 26th round of ORLEN Basket Liga will also observe a moment of silence in his memory.

In Italy, Serie A announced that matches scheduled for the current round, both in Serie A and Serie A Primavera, have been postponed following the passing of the Pope. The new dates for these games will be announced soon via the league's official social media channels.

In Argentina, where Pope Francis was born, the Argentine Football Association postponed Monday's matches to allow the nation to mourn. All matches this week will also be preceded by a minute of silence.

The Argentine football community has expressed its deep sorrow, with a statement from the Football Association honoring Pope Francis, a passionate football fan and supporter of the San Lorenzo club in Buenos Aires.

The statement also recalled his meetings with football legends like Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona, noting his unwavering love for the sport and his beloved team.

Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, was not only a spiritual leader but also a significant figure in the football world, whose love for the sport was widely known and celebrated.

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Source: X/@_Ekstraklasa_/@SerieA/@ESPNFC/@SanLorePrimero/@sport_pr24pl/PLK.pl