As a lifelong football fan and loyal supporter of the San Lorenzo club, the Pope is honored not only as a religious leader, but also as a spiritual "captain" of the country.
According to France24, the Argentina Football Federation postponed all matches on the day of the cardinal's death and announced that it would take a minute of silence for all remaining matches of the week.
In an emotional statement, the organization described the Philippines as "a player of the generation" Francis, who never kept the ball to himself and has proven to the world the importance of an Argentine captain in times of need for courage.
San Lorenzo Club - where Mr. Jorge Bergoglio (the real name of the popes) is a lifelong fan - also organizes many commemorative activities. The club's temple will be open until 9pm every night for fans to visit at a temporary altar with his portraits.
San Lorenzo Club President Marcelo Moretti confirmed that the club's new 55,000-seat stadium will be named for Cardinal Francis. According to Mr. Moretti, during his visit to the Vatican in 2024, he proposed this idea and the Pope agreed with deep emotion. This is considered a great honor not only for the club but also for the entire Argentine football community, as a final thank you to the person who "always a part of us".
A commemorative Mass will be held on April 23, and in the match against Rosario Central on April 26, San Lorenzo players will take to the field in a special shirt named after Cardinal Francis.
An image of the papal membership card of San Lorenzo since 2008 has gone viral on social media, attracting attention for a strange coincidence: he passed away at 2:35 a.m., at the age of 88, and his card number is also 88235.
Lionel Messi was one of the first players to express his gratitude to the Pope for make the world better. The steps of the Capital Church of Los Los Los Aones - where he served as arch rich from 1998 to 2013 - and a church in the Flores neighborhood, where he lived during his youth, were also covered with shirts, scarves and flags of many clubs.
