Farewell to Pope Francis, pontiff with a passion for soccer

“Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father”. These are the words of His Eminence Card Farrell to announce the death of Pope Francis.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires, passed away at the age of 88. His pontificate lasted 12 years in which he faced major challenges, such as the global pandemic (Covid-19).

Great was his passion for sports, seen as a means of dialogue and unity among people. As a young man he tried his hand at basketball and has always had a soft spot for soccer. The Argentine club San Lorenzo has always had a special relationship with Pope Francis. Although he has never officially admitted to being a San Lorenzo fan, the pontiff has always been juxtaposed with the Argentine club so much so that, often, several Santos fans (one of San Lorenzo’s nicknames) wear masks with the face of Pope Francis at their team’s games.

During his pontificate he has received many sports figures. He had recently congratulated even Jannik Sinner for his tremendous achievements on the field.