Pope Francis had been hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital since February 14 due to a polymicrobial infection affecting his lungs.

With his passing, a 12-year era at the Vatican came to an end—a progressive and transformative period that differed from church traditions. As the first pope from the Americas, known as the “Pope of the Poor,” he sought to spread God’s message to previously unimaginable places and improved interfaith relations.

For many, his leadership marked a turning point in church history. He is considered the most football-loving pope, a devoted fan of Argentina’s national team and the club San Lorenzo.

Love for Football

“I want to especially greet the champions of America, the San Lorenzo team, which is part of my cultural identity,” Pope Francis said in August 2014 when his beloved San Lorenzo won the Copa Libertadores while he was on an official visit to South Korea. His love for “El Ciclón” (San Lorenzo’s nickname) began in childhood and remained strong throughout his life.

Pope Francis was a passionate supporter of San Lorenzo from a young age. He once said, “For me, San Lorenzo was the family team. My father played basketball for them. As a child, my mother would come with us to the Gasómetro stadium. I remember the 1946 team—it was brilliant.” Later, as pope, he hosted San Lorenzo’s Copa Libertadores-winning squad at the Vatican.

In 2016, one of the most significant moments highlighting Pope Francis’s deep connection with San Lorenzo occurred. After an earthquake struck Amatrice, Italy, killing 292 people, he—who had previously been the Archbishop of Buenos Aires—organized a friendly match between San Lorenzo and A.S. Roma to raise funds for the victims. Francesco Totti was among the stars who participated.

In 2013, just days after his election as pope, a photo of him wearing a San Lorenzo jersey near St. Peter’s Basilica surfaced. FIFA later decided to display the San Lorenzo jersey alongside a photo of Pope Francis wearing it in their Zurich museum. At the time, it was the only South American club jersey in the museum.

San Lorenzo also honored him on Twitter: “It is an honor for this club that the first South American pope is a member of San Lorenzo,” posting a photo of Bergoglio’s honorary membership card with the number 88235N. Five years earlier, in Buenos Aires, he had presided over the club’s 100th-anniversary celebrations.

This deep bond, filled with memories and unforgettable moments, was between a club and a fan who remained loyal despite geographical distance, using his position to promote one of Argentina’s most historic football clubs.