Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Lionel Messi’s Emotional Reaction to Death of Pope Francis

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Apr 21, 2025 2:26 PM ET

On Monday, the world mourned the loss of Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 in his home, Domus Sanctae Marthae, which also serves as a guest house for clergy in Vatican City.

Pope Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, began the papacy on March 13, 2013, replacing Benedict XVI, who resigned the papacy.

Soccer superstar Lionel Messi took to social media to share a message to pay tribute Pope Francis. (Please note that Messi's message posted to Instagram was translated from Spanish.)

“A different Pope, warm, close, Argentine… Rest in peace, Pope Francis. Thank you for making the world a better place. We will miss you.”

All football matches in Italy's Serie A scheduled for Monday have been postponed.

Pope Francis was the first pope born in Argentina, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere and the first Jesuit.

In addition to speaking Spanish, Francis also spoke fluent Italian and German. He could also hold conversations in Latin, French, Portuguese and English.

Messi and the Pope first met in 2013.

In a recent appearance on TG1, an Italian TV show, Pope Francis was asked whether Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona was the best soccer player ever, and the Pope responded differently.

"I would add a third, Pele," Pope Francis said. "They are the three I have followed. All three are great, each with his own specialty. At the moment Messi is very good.

"Among these three, the greatest gentleman is Pele," Pope Francis said. "He is a man with a very big heart. I spoke to him, I met him on a plane in Buenos Aires, and he is a man of great humanity."

Francis, the eldest of five children, began his studies at the Inmaculada Concepción Seminary in Buenos Aires. He was ordained in 1969, consecrated in 1992, and made a cardinal in 2001.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: