San Lorenzo fans paid heartfelt tribute to Pope Francis, a lifelong supporter and registered member of the Buenos Aires football club, following his death on Monday at the age of 88. Supporters gathered at the club’s chapel, lighting candles beside a statue of the pontiff draped in the team’s red and navy colours. A poignant detail shared widely on social media intensified the emotion—his club membership number, 88235N-0, coincided exactly with his age (88) and the time of his death (2:35am Buenos Aires time). The club confirmed the number, which many fans described as a “divine sign.”

The club announced its chapel would remain open until 9pm each evening throughout the week, allowing fans to pay their respects at a makeshift altar bearing Francis’s portrait. A memorial mass is scheduled for Wednesday, and players will don commemorative jerseys in Saturday’s home match against Rosario Central.

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San Lorenzo’s president, Marcelo Moretti, confirmed the club’s planned 55,000-seater stadium will be named after the late pontiff. He said Pope Francis had personally approved the gesture during a meeting at the Vatican in 2024, describing the moment as deeply emotional.

Tributes have poured in from across Argentina’s football community. Lionel Messi led the national homage, thanking the pope for “making the world a better place.” The Argentine Football Association (AFA) postponed all fixtures on Monday and will observe a minute’s silence at all matches for the rest of the week.

From special kits to a stadium in his name, Argentina’s football world has embraced a series of tributes to the man many now describe as its ultimate “Captain.” The AFA eulogised Pope Francis as a “generational talent” who “never hogged the ball” and showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain when courage is needed.” (With inputs from Agencies)