Camille Naredo

This photo taken on April 21, 2025 and handout on April 22, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis in his open coffin during the rite of the Confirmation of the Death of the Pontiff at the Chapel of Santa Marta in The Vatican. Handout/The Vatican Media via AFP

EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / This photo taken on April 21, 2025 and handout on April 22, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis in his open coffin during the rite of the Confirmation of the Death of the Pontiff at the Chapel of Santa Marta in The Vatican. (Photo by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / VATICAN MEDIA" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Article (news)

Pope Francis

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1745396155818AFP__20250422__432L2WD__v1__HighRes__VaticanReligionPopeObit.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="This photo taken on April 21, 2025 and handout on April 22, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis in his open coffin during the rite of the Confirmation of the Death of the Pontiff at the Chapel of Santa Marta in The Vatican. Handout/The Vatican Media via AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">This photo taken on April 21, 2025 and handout on April 22, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis in his open coffin during the rite of the Confirmation of the Death of the Pontiff at the Chapel of Santa Marta in The Vatican. <em>Handout/The Vatican Media via AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine football plans a slew of tributes to its late &quot;Captain&quot; Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player.</p><p>Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the beautiful game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with football metaphors in his homeland.</p><p>&quot;Francisco. What a player,&quot; the Argentine Football Federation  remarked, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who &quot;never hogged the ball&quot; and who showed the world &quot;the importance of having an Argentine captain, when courage is needed.&quot;</p><p>The AFA postponed all its fixtures on Monday in mourning for the pope. A minute&#x27;s silence will be observed at all games for the rest of the week.</p><p>San Lorenzo club in Buenos Aires, of which Jorge Bergoglio was a lifelong fan, announced that its chapel would remain open until 9 pm each night this week to allow fans say their goodbyes at a makeshift altar adorned with his portrait.</p><p>The club also plans a memorial mass on Wednesday and players will tog out in a special Francis commemorative jersey on Saturday when they meet rivals Rosario Central at home.</p><p>A picture of the pope&#x27;s San Lorenzo membership card from 2008 went viral on social media with many remarking on the strange coincidence of his time of death in Argentina, 2:35, at age 88 and his club membership number: 88235.</p><p>READ: Messi, San Lorenzo bid farewell to football fan Pope Francis</p><p>https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/4/22/messi-san-lorenzo-bid-farewell-to-football-fan-pope-francis-1251</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>- &#x27;Pope Francis&#x27; stadium -</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DJYoHEyIwck?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Argentine football great Lionel Messi on Monday led his country&#x27;s tributes to the pontiff, thanking him for &quot;making the world a better place.&quot;</p><p>San Lorenzo issued an emotional statement and video about the illustrious &quot;crow,&quot; as fans of the club founded by a priest are known, who was &quot;always one of us.&quot;</p><p>The steps of Buenos Aires Cathedral, where Francis was archbishop from 1998 to 2013, and that of a church in his home neighborhood of Flores where a memorial mass was held on Monday, were dotted with football jerseys, scarves and bunting.</p><p>San Lorenzo&#x27;s president Marcelo Moretti confirmed Tuesday that the club&#x27;s planned 55,000-seater stadium will be named after the late leader of the world&#x27;s 1.4 billion Catholics.</p><p>Moretti said he visited the pope at the Vatican in 2024 to ask him to lend his name to the venue.</p><p>&quot;He accepted and was very moved,&quot; Moretti said.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine football plans a slew of tributes to its late "Captain" Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player.</p>

From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine football plans a slew of tributes to its late "Captain" Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player.

A stadium and a jersey for Argentina's 'Captain' Francis

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Sports

A stadium and a jersey for Argentina's 'Captain' Francis

Agence France-Presse,

Sonia Avalos

Published April 23, 2025 04:16 PM PHT

Read More:

abssports

absnews

Pope Francis

Pope Francis death

Argentina

Argentine Football Federation

San Lorenzo

Lionel Messi

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.