Legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, along with several other well-known footballers, paid their respects to Pope Francis during his funeral in Rome on 26 April 2025.The funeral drew a huge crowd, reflecting the global impact of the Pope’s life and work.Players from Serie A side Lazio, including Pedro, Zaccagni, Lazzari, Romagnoli, and others, attended the funeral dressed in black suits to show their respect.Lazio’s coach, Marco Baroni, and members of the club’s technical staff were also present to honour the late pontiff. Their appearance showed how much the Pope’s death affected not only the religious community but also the world of sport.Recommended For YouNews2025-04-25T23:05:14+00:00NE/R: Court remands man over GHC300K MoMo robbery; gang members on the runNews2025-04-25T14:31:50+00:00Malik Basintale vows to resist renewal of controversial Zoomlion contractSports2025-04-26T12:44:55+00:00Why Asante Kotoko will hire a foreign coach over a local manager next seasonAsante Kotoko are looking to hire an expatriate coach to lead them next season after the dismissal of Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum this season. Here’s the reason…Following the Pope’s death, sporting activities in Italy and his home country Argentina were suspended as a sign of mourning. Football matches across both nations and Europe held a one-minute silence in memory of the beloved leader.READ ALSO: Del Writes: Dear Kofi Adams, is this what President Mahama promised?Pope Francis demisePope Francis passed away on Monday, 21 April 2025, after struggling to recover from pneumonia, which had left him in hospital for five weeks.His death marked the end of his 12-year leadership of the Catholic Church, during which he was widely praised for his focus on compassion, humility, and global unity.The funeral, held at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, attracted around 200,000 pilgrims, while around 130 international delegations also made the journey to pay their final respects.The event highlighted the Pope’s lasting influence far beyond religious circles, touching political leaders, ordinary citizens, and sports figures alike.MUST READ: Ex-Premier League star denies making lover perform disgusting sexual actsThe presence of major names from Italian football, including Buffon and Lazio’s stars, served as a reminder of how Pope Francis’s legacy reached into all parts of society, uniting people from all walks of life in shared grief and respect.