UEFA has confirmed that a one-minute silence will be observed before all club competition semi-finals next week to honour the late Pope Francis, whom the governing body described as a “beacon of hope for all humanity.”
This tribute will precede the men’s Champions League semi-finals, running from April 29 to May 1.
It will also extend to fixtures in the UEFA Youth League, Women’s Champions League, Europa League and Conference League semi-finals.
Matches involving Inter and Fiorentina at Barcelona and Real Betis, respectively, are among those scheduled to participate.
The announcement follows the passing of Pope Francis on Monday, sparking widespread tributes, including a statement from UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, who highlighted the Pope’s enduring advocacy for peace, equality, and support for the vulnerable.
Serie A and Coppa Italia fixtures have already paid similar respects, and all professional matches slated for Saturday have been postponed to avoid clashing with the Pope’s funeral, set for Saturday morning in Rome.
