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Legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, along with several other well-known footballers, paid their respects to Pope Francis during his funeral in Rome on 26 April 2025.
The funeral drew a huge crowd, reflecting the global impact of the Pope’s life and work.
Players from Serie A side Lazio, including Pedro, Zaccagni, Lazzari, Romagnoli, and others, attended the funeral dressed in black suits to show their respect.
Lazio’s coach, Marco Baroni, and members of the club’s technical staff were also present to honour the late pontiff. Their appearance showed how much the Pope’s death affected not only the religious community but also the world of sport.
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Following the Pope’s death, sporting activities in Italy and his home country Argentina were suspended as a sign of mourning. Football matches across both nations and Europe held a one-minute silence in memory of the beloved leader.
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Pope Francis demise
Pope Francis passed away on Monday, 21 April 2025, after struggling to recover from pneumonia, which had left him in hospital for five weeks.
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His death marked the end of his 12-year leadership of the Catholic Church, during which he was widely praised for his focus on compassion, humility, and global unity.
The funeral, held at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, attracted around 200,000 pilgrims, while around 130 international delegations also made the journey to pay their final respects.
The event highlighted the Pope’s lasting influence far beyond religious circles, touching political leaders, ordinary citizens, and sports figures alike.
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The presence of major names from Italian football, including Buffon and Lazio’s stars, served as a reminder of how Pope Francis’s legacy reached into all parts of society, uniting people from all walks of life in shared grief and respect.