Infantino mourns Pope Francis, celebrates his football legacy

FIFA President Gianni Infantino when he met Pope Francis [Instagram]

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and followers of Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88.

The Vatican confirmed the pontiff died early Monday, April 21, due to a stroke followed by irreversible heart failure.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, was widely admired not only for his spiritual guidance but also for his genuine enthusiasm for football. Infantino recalled his personal encounters with the Pope, noting how the pontiff frequently stressed football's unique power to unite communities and foster positive social change.

"Football is the most beautiful sport in the world," Pope Francis once said, a sentiment Infantino highlighted in his message. He spoke of the Pope's strong belief in sport as a tool to educate and protect children worldwide. This vision was reinforced earlier this year at the World Leaders Summit on Children's Rights held at the Vatican, where the Pope stressed football's role as a unifying and positive global force.

"I was privileged enough to spend some time with him on a couple of occasions, and he always shared his enthusiasm for football and stressed the important role our sport plays in society, in particular in relation to educating and safeguarding children all around the world," he said.

Infantino acknowledged the Pope's deep significance to the Catholic community as a leader who conveyed messages of hope and peace.

"I know how much he meant to the Catholic community as the leader of their church worldwide. Through the message of hope and peace that he provided as recently as yesterday on Easter Sunday, he led by example, and my sincere condolences go to all those who knew him, his community, family and friends. All the prayers of the whole football world are with him. May he rest in peace," the FIFA president said.

As word of Pope Francis's passing spread, calm settled over St. Peter's Square, where hundreds gathered to pray and pay their respects. The news of his death has deeply moved Catholics across continents.

Pope Francis had recently been discharged from the hospital after several weeks of treatment for an infection before his sudden decline.