Buffon (tallest) among the dignitaries paying their respects to Pope Francis
Legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and other footballers from various clubs paid their respects to Pope Francis during his funeral in Rome on April 26, 2025.
Players from Serie A club Lazio, including Pedro, Zaccagni, Lazzari, Romagnoli, and their teammates, were present in black suits to honor the late pontiff.
Lazio coach Marco Baroni and other members of the technical team also took their turn to pay their respects, duly honoring the Pope.
The death of the Catholic Church leader led to the suspension of sports-related activities in both Italy and Argentina, his home country, as a mark of mourning.
The sporting community also observed a one-minute silence during football matches to commemorate his passing.
The pontiff, who led the Catholic Church for 12 years, was pronounced dead on Monday, April 21, 2025.
Reports indicate that Pope Francis died while recovering from pneumonia, which had kept him hospitalized for five weeks.
Given the late pontiff’s global stature, about 130 foreign delegations from various countries, along with approximately 200,000 pilgrims, have gathered in Vatican City, Rome, to mourn his passing.
Watch video of the players paying their respects to the Pope below:
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SB/MA
