The Italian Olympic Committee suspended all competitions on Monday and has called for a minute's silence during the week to honour the Holy Father

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Italy brings sport to a standstill after Pope Francis' death

Italy paralyses sport after Pope Francis' deathThe Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) on Monday called for the immediate suspension of all sporting competitions in Italy, including those scheduled in Serie A, as a mark of respect following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88.

Giovanni Malagò, president of CONI, issued a statement in which he urged National Sports Federations, Associated Disciplines and Sports Promotion Bodies to stop all sporting activities scheduled for the day, in addition to observing a minute's silence at events taking place during the rest of the week.

"Italian sport, deeply saddened, joins in the sorrow for the loss of the Holy Father Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio. The world loses a spiritual guide who enlightened with his message of fraternity, empathy and humanitarian values, fundamental for a more just society," said Malagò.

Among the matches affected were the Serie A games scheduled for Monday: Torino vs Udinese, Cagliari vs Fiorentina, Genoa vs Lazio and Parma vs Juventus.

Italian sport, as an integral part of the social and cultural fabric of the country, has decided to pay tribute to a transcendental figure who, beyond religious matters, marked millions of people with his principles and humanity.