Saturday's Serie A matches postponed as Italy mourns Pope Francis

The three Serie A matches planned for Saturday, April 26, along with all other sporting events for the day, have been postponed to a later date, still to be determined. This is due to the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke.

"The matches for Saturday are suspended," stated Italian Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci.

"The President of CONI, Giovanni Malago, has urged the National Sports Federations, the Associated Sports Disciplines, and the Sports Promotion Bodies to suspend all scheduled sporting events on Saturday, April 26, the day of the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis.

"He also renewed the invitation to observe a minute of silence during competitive events held throughout the week to honour the Pope's memory," added the Italian Olympic Committee.

The Serie A matches affected are Como vs Genoa, an Inter-Roma, and a Lazio vs Parma, with the latter being the most impacted as it is scheduled to take place at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, just six kilometres from St Peter's Basilica, where the funeral will be held.

The large influx expected in the Italian capital on Sunday, due to the Jubilee for Young People, an event where 100,000 Catholic faithful are expected, also complicates the possibility of holding the match on Sunday.

Lazio, Parma and Genoa have already had their Monday matches postponed, which will now take place on Wednesday.

Pope Francis' funeral will be held on April 26 at 10.00 CEST in St Peter's Square, while on Wednesday, the coffin will be moved to St Peter's Basilica for the faithful's tribute.

The ceremony, expected to be attended by Heads of State from around the world, will be officiated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, and at its conclusion, the coffin will be taken to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial, as the Pope had requested in his will.