Pope Francis has died. The Vatican confirmed his death early Monday morning, April 7, 2025. The 88-year-old pontiff spent nearly four decades in public service and twelve years reshaping the global Catholic Church . His death comes just a day after Easter Sunday , where he made a final public appearance from St. Peter’s Square. And while the Vatican mourns, the ripple effects of his passing are showing up in unexpected places. Serie A matches have been postponed. NFL fans are digging up the viral moment Pope Francis unintentionally “blessed” the New Orleans Saints on X. It’s a full-circle kind of headline that almost feels surreal.
The focus right now, though, is his death. The bells rang across Rome as Cardinal Kevin Ferrell read the official announcement from the chapel inside Domus Santa Marta, where Pope Francis had lived. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” Ferrell said.
Pope Francis had been hospitalized on February 14 for a respiratory crisis . He had chronic lung disease and previously had part of one lung removed. Doctors later confirmed he had developed double pneumonia. He stayed in Gemelli hospital for 38 days, which was the longest hospitalization of his papacy. Just one day before his death, he made what would be his final appearance, riding through the square in the popemobile, waving to the crowd, and offering his last blessing.
Pope Francis' legacy collides with football: Serie A matches paused, and the New Orleans Saints' viral moment resurfaces
The death of Pope Francis immediately impacted Italy’s top football league. Serie A officials announced that all Monday matches were postponed. “Following the passing of His Holiness, Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A can confirm that today's league games in Serie A and Primavera 1 have been postponed,” the league stated. The new dates are still unknown.
Four matches were impacted: Torino vs. Udinese, Cagliari vs. Fiorentina, Lazio vs. Genoa, and Parma vs. Juventus. It’s rare for an active sports calendar to come to a full stop, but this moment was that big.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the football world, NFL fans found themselves back in a bizarre but real viral flashback. Back in November, Pope Francis posted about “#Saints” on X. But because of X’s automatic formatting, the New Orleans Saints logo appeared in the post.
“The #Saints are precious pearls and are always living and relevant, because they provide a fascinating commentary on the Gospel,” the pope’s account shared. What was meant to be a message about actual saints suddenly became NFL-adjacent. And it couldn’t have come at a funnier time.
The New Orleans Saints had just lost their seventh straight game and fired head coach Dennis Allen. One fan replied, “Even the Pope is excited we fired Dennis Allen.”
This isn’t the first time the Vatican's social team triggered an NFL frenzy. It started way back in 2019 when the hashtag "#Saints" began auto-generating the team's fleur-de-lis logo. Rev. Matthew Schneider has spent years trying to get the Vatican communications office to fix the glitch. “It was cute the first time but it's becoming tiresome,” he wrote.
Pope Francis never corrected or acknowledged the mix-up. But again, this was a man who led with a calm sense of humor and never chased PR repairs. For the record, he was a San Lorenzo fan — the Argentine football club he followed from childhood.
Pope Francis shaped a modern papacy, but his last week revealed just how wide his influence stretched
It’s strange that a post about saints turned into a New Orleans Saints meme, but that was Pope Francis’ reach. His papacy was defined by moments like that. It was traditional and polarizing. It was gentle and deeply political. He clashed with conservatives for supporting LGBTQ+ Catholics and condemning economic inequality. He cracked down on traditionalist factions, yet stood still during the Church’s worst abuse crises.
Pope Francis navigated the COVID-19 pandemic with global livestreams and solitary speeches to an empty square. “We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented,” he said in 2020. That same speech also reminded the world of the need to comfort each other.
He wasn’t perfect. He failed to act fast during the Chilean abuse crisis. He kept certain parts of Church doctrine in place that critics say harmed marginalized groups. But he also re-centered the papacy around humility, around simplicity. He became the pope who rode the bus, carried his own bags, refused the palace.
On Sunday, just hours before his death, he greeted U.S. Vice President JD Vance. He waved to thousands from the same balcony where he first said “Buonasera” in 2013. Then on Monday, the bells rang out in Rome.
Read More: NFL draft mistakes: JaMarcus Russell heads the list of No. 1 pick letdowns
The focus right now, though, is his death. The bells rang across Rome as Cardinal Kevin Ferrell read the official announcement from the chapel inside Domus Santa Marta, where Pope Francis had lived. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” Ferrell said.
Pope Francis had been hospitalized on February 14 for a respiratory crisis . He had chronic lung disease and previously had part of one lung removed. Doctors later confirmed he had developed double pneumonia. He stayed in Gemelli hospital for 38 days, which was the longest hospitalization of his papacy. Just one day before his death, he made what would be his final appearance, riding through the square in the popemobile, waving to the crowd, and offering his last blessing.
Pope Francis' legacy collides with football: Serie A matches paused, and the New Orleans Saints' viral moment resurfaces
Thank you for your prayers, Pontiff
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 5, 2024
We need them 🙏 https://t.co/8SiwDFUHm7 pic.twitter.com/PVdT2LP1bt
The death of Pope Francis immediately impacted Italy’s top football league. Serie A officials announced that all Monday matches were postponed. “Following the passing of His Holiness, Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A can confirm that today's league games in Serie A and Primavera 1 have been postponed,” the league stated. The new dates are still unknown.
Four matches were impacted: Torino vs. Udinese, Cagliari vs. Fiorentina, Lazio vs. Genoa, and Parma vs. Juventus. It’s rare for an active sports calendar to come to a full stop, but this moment was that big.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the football world, NFL fans found themselves back in a bizarre but real viral flashback. Back in November, Pope Francis posted about “#Saints” on X. But because of X’s automatic formatting, the New Orleans Saints logo appeared in the post.
“The #Saints are precious pearls and are always living and relevant, because they provide a fascinating commentary on the Gospel,” the pope’s account shared. What was meant to be a message about actual saints suddenly became NFL-adjacent. And it couldn’t have come at a funnier time.
The New Orleans Saints had just lost their seventh straight game and fired head coach Dennis Allen. One fan replied, “Even the Pope is excited we fired Dennis Allen.”
This isn’t the first time the Vatican's social team triggered an NFL frenzy. It started way back in 2019 when the hashtag "#Saints" began auto-generating the team's fleur-de-lis logo. Rev. Matthew Schneider has spent years trying to get the Vatican communications office to fix the glitch. “It was cute the first time but it's becoming tiresome,” he wrote.
Pope Francis never corrected or acknowledged the mix-up. But again, this was a man who led with a calm sense of humor and never chased PR repairs. For the record, he was a San Lorenzo fan — the Argentine football club he followed from childhood.
Pope Francis shaped a modern papacy, but his last week revealed just how wide his influence stretched
Pope Francis used his last public address to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
— Taj Ali (@Taj_Ali1) April 21, 2025
Even as he was hospitalised, he maintained his commitment to check in on a daily basis with priests and parishioners at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City.
Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/zJFmt8IZmg
It’s strange that a post about saints turned into a New Orleans Saints meme, but that was Pope Francis’ reach. His papacy was defined by moments like that. It was traditional and polarizing. It was gentle and deeply political. He clashed with conservatives for supporting LGBTQ+ Catholics and condemning economic inequality. He cracked down on traditionalist factions, yet stood still during the Church’s worst abuse crises.
Pope Francis navigated the COVID-19 pandemic with global livestreams and solitary speeches to an empty square. “We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented,” he said in 2020. That same speech also reminded the world of the need to comfort each other.
He wasn’t perfect. He failed to act fast during the Chilean abuse crisis. He kept certain parts of Church doctrine in place that critics say harmed marginalized groups. But he also re-centered the papacy around humility, around simplicity. He became the pope who rode the bus, carried his own bags, refused the palace.
On Sunday, just hours before his death, he greeted U.S. Vice President JD Vance. He waved to thousands from the same balcony where he first said “Buonasera” in 2013. Then on Monday, the bells rang out in Rome.
Read More: NFL draft mistakes: JaMarcus Russell heads the list of No. 1 pick letdowns
You may also like
'I will be 2000 percent behind him': Vasseur defends Hamilton after Saudi GP struggles
Nick Faldo sums up feelings on Rory McIlroy with comment on greatest ever players
Which cardinals are seen as contenders to be next pope?
Numerology: Children Born with Destiny Number 5 Are Naturally Rich and Smart, Here's Why They're Blessed by Goddess Lakshmi
Prince Harry and Kate Middleton broken by 'arguments, broadsides and betrayal'
