By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The four Serie A matches scheduled to take place on Monday have been postponed following the death of Pope Francis, the Italian top flight said in a statement.
Udinese’s game at Torino, Fiorentina’s visit to Cagliari, Genoa’s match against Lazio and Juventus’ trip to Parma will be rescheduled.
The governing body which oversees the Italian top flight said the fixtures would be rearranged in due course.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church and a lifelong football fan has died, the Vatican said in a video statement on Monday. He was 88.
Pope Francis was elected to lead the Catholic Church in 2013, replacing Pope Benedict XVI.
The 88-year-old was a known football fan and had supported Argentine side San Lorenzo since he was a child.
A number of Serie A clubs posted tributes to the Pope following his passing.
“A loss that deeply saddens our city and the entire world,” a Roma statement read.
“His faith, his humility, his courage and his dedication have touched the hearts of millions of people, making him a moral reference of our time.”
His papacy was marked by his championing of those escaping war and hunger, as well as those in poverty, earning him the moniker the “People’s Pope”.