Football Mourns the Loss of Pope Francis: From 'Hand of God' Discussions to Meetings with Alaba

The world of football is in mourning following the passing of Pope Francis, which has led to the suspension of matches in Italy's top-tier league, Serie A. The announcement of the Pontiff's death on Easter Monday resulted in the postponement of four matches, with further games being rescheduled in light of the funeral taking place in Rome on Saturday.

Pope Francis, an ardent football enthusiast, was particularly dedicated to his favorite team, San Lorenzo de Almagro, where he held membership number 88,235. The club expressed their sorrow, stating, 'He was always one of us,' and vowed that his legacy would be everlasting. Under his papacy, San Lorenzo achieved significant milestones, including winning the Argentine league in 2013 and the Copa Libertadores the following year. Plans are underway to name the club's new stadium in his honor.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) released a statement reflecting the nation's grief, announcing moments of silence across all levels of competition throughout the week. They acknowledged Pope Francis not only as a spiritual leader but also as a significant figure in football, having met with legendary players such as Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.

In his autobiography, Pope Francis shared that he had discussed Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal scored during the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals against England. He humorously recalled asking Maradona which hand was responsible for the goal. Messi, a regular visitor to the Vatican, often gifted the Pope jerseys from his clubs, including FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentine superstar took to social media to express his condolences, describing the Pope as a unique figure who made the world a better place.

Tributes have poured in from various organizations, including FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), underscoring the Pope's unhidden passion for football.

David Alaba, the Austrian national team captain, also had the honor of meeting Pope Francis during a visit with Bayern Munich after a Champions League match against AS Roma. During the audience, team captains, including Philipp Lahm and Manuel Neuer, presented the Pope with a jersey emblazoned with his name and the number one, signed by the entire team. Alaba later described the encounter as 'one of the greatest experiences of my life.'

Pope Francis passed away early Monday morning due to complications from a stroke, at the age of 88. Just the day before, he delivered the Easter blessing 'Urbi et Orbi' from St. Peter's Square in Rome.