Serie A has officially rescheduled four matches that were originally set for Easter Monday but were postponed due to the passing of Pope Francis. These games—Torino vs. Udinese, Cagliari vs. Fiorentina, Genoa vs. Lazio, and Parma vs. Juventus—will now take place on Wednesday, April 23, with a unified kick-off time of 17:30 BST.
The decision to postpone these fixtures was made as a mark of respect following the sudden death of Pope Francis, whose passing sparked widespread mourning in Italy and across the globe. Italian football authorities moved quickly to acknowledge the national grief, and Serie A opted to delay the planned Easter Monday matches just one day after the announcement of the Pope’s death.
All four postponed fixtures have now been moved to a midweek slot, and they will be played simultaneously in an effort to maintain scheduling balance and fairness across the competition.
Despite these adjustments, the Coppa Italia schedule remains largely unchanged. The highly anticipated second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final between Inter and AC Milan—famously known as the Derby della Madonnina—will proceed as originally planned. The match, currently level at 1-1 on aggregate, will kick off later that same Wednesday at 20:00 BST. This high-profile encounter between the Milanese rivals is one of the highlights of the Italian football calendar and will not be impacted by the schedule reshuffle caused by the papal mourning period.
Likewise, the other Coppa Italia semi-final, featuring Bologna and Empoli, will also continue as scheduled. Bologna holds a commanding 3-0 advantage going into the second leg. That game will be played on Thursday evening, April 24, with a kick-off time of 20:00 BST, maintaining its original slot.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president, Gabriele Gravina, spoke publicly to honor Pope Francis and express the football community’s shared sorrow. Gravina issued a heartfelt tribute, acknowledging the Pope’s profound impact not only on religious and global affairs but also on the sporting world.
“Italian football shares with emotion the grief of hundreds of millions of people for the painful passing of His Holiness Pope Francis,” Gravina stated. “A great example of Christian charity and dignity in suffering, he always showed himself attentive to the world of sport and to football in particular, which he was passionate about.”
The Pope, known for his humble demeanor and deep empathy, held a special place in the hearts of many football fans. He had a longstanding affection for the sport and often used football as a platform to communicate values such as teamwork, solidarity, and perseverance. He was also vocal in his support of fair play, community engagement, and youth involvement in sports.
Gravina highlighted the Pope’s humanitarian spirit, noting, “His human closeness, as well as spiritual, to the sick, the poor, and the persecuted across the planet was his deepest testimony, a beacon that will illuminate generations to come. He will remain forever in our hearts as faithful and lovers of the game of football.”
The rescheduling of the Serie A matches is part of a broader national moment of mourning. The Catholic Church holds a deeply rooted cultural and spiritual significance in Italy, and Pope Francis was a highly respected figure far beyond religious circles. His connection to football, particularly his interest in the sport’s role in uniting communities and nurturing youth, made him a beloved figure among players, fans, and officials alike.
Serie A’s decision to move the games instead of compressing them into an already tight calendar reflects the league’s effort to handle the situation with sensitivity and respect. Holding all four rescheduled matches at the same time ensures competitive integrity, particularly as the league nears its closing stages and teams battle for European spots, survival, and the title itself.
Clubs involved in the rescheduled fixtures will now have to adapt their training and recovery schedules to accommodate the midweek matches. Juventus, Lazio, Fiorentina, and Torino, along with their respective opponents, will need to prepare for these crucial league games while also keeping an eye on the remaining weeks of the season.
The rest of the Serie A calendar is expected to proceed without further changes, though clubs will remain flexible as the league navigates the logistical implications of the postponements.
Italian football has responded with unity and grace to a moment of profound loss. The realignment of fixtures is a symbolic gesture reflecting the game’s respect for the late Pope Francis—a spiritual leader whose influence transcended religion and touched every corner of society, including the world of football. His legacy as a passionate supporter of the sport and a champion of human dignity will continue to inspire long after the games resume.
