Pope Francis, the first Latin American head of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday. He had just turned 88. Born in Buenos Aires in 1936, he is a controversial and experimental figure. He won the spirit and mind of Argentineans with his expression of spiritual leadership and passionate love of football. In response to his death, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) acted. They declared that all fixtures flexibly timed to be played on Monday would be postponed in a mark of mourning.
Pope Francis was a lifelong supporter of San Lorenzo de Almagro, a team based in the Buenos Aires Province. As you can imagine, his love of the game was legendary and he didn’t shy away from showing off his love of football. The AFA expressed their sorrow, stating, “Argentine football says goodbye to you wrapped in deep sorrow.”
A Life of Passion for Football
Over the course of his papacy, there’s no denying that Pope Francis loved to flaunt his unconditional love for the beautiful game. He had a notable and photogenic meeting with Argentine football legendary Diego Maradona at the Vatican. They even had a cheeky laugh about Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal. At their first meeting, Pope Francis joked with Maradona “So, which one is the guilty hand?” This exchange was a reminder of his humility and genuine passion for the game.
His love of football wasn’t limited to Maradona. Pope Francis is known to have developed a deep bond with Lionel Messi. The two first connected in person in 2013, and their rapport was instant and characterized by deep mutual respect and admiration. Messi paid tribute to the late pope on social media, stating, “A different pope, close to us, Argentinean. Pope Francis. Thank you for making the world a better place. We are going to miss you.”
A National Moment of Reflection
In tribute to Pope Francis after his death, the Argentine Football Association kicked off a wave of tributes throughout the world of football. This week, sport matches across the country will open with a minute’s silence in celebration of his legacy. Gestures of deep affection express how profoundly the pope has touched the church. Second, they call attention to his impact on Argentine society and culture more broadly.
This underlined how in touch with the spirit of football in Argentina Pope Francis is by wanting these fixtures postponed. By conducting national and community commemorative moments we are honoring that unique connection. Because his passion for the game was contagious and it reached millions of fans. It brought fans of different colors and cultures together, helping them enjoy the game and his extraordinary leadership.
Leave a Reply