Pope Francis Was A Card-carrying Soccer Fan. And A Promoter Of The Values In Sports

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 . A minute of silence will be observed before all sports events later in the week, the Italian Olympic Committee added.

"Italian soccer joins in the mourning of millions of people following the death of Pope Francis. He was a great example of Christian caring and dignity in the face of suffering and he was always attentive to the sports world and particularly soccer, of which he was a fan," said Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina. "He will always remain in the hearts of the faithful and lovers of soccer."

Francis' passion for soccer became known almost immediately after he was elected pope in 2013 when San Lorenzo tweeted a photo of him holding up the club's crest . He was even a card-carrying member of the club, with San Lorenzo ID No. 88,235.