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Vatican Obit Pope Francis
FILE - Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona, left, greets Pope Francis in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Monday, Sept. 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
ROME (AP) — From meetings with Diego Maradona to the passion for his beloved Buenos Aires club, San Lorenzo, Pope Francis was an avid soccer fan. And a promoter of sports in general.
Francis died Monday at 88 and the soccer and sports world immediately paid homage.
All sports events scheduled for Monday in Italy were postponed to mourn Francis, including four top-flight soccer matches.