The Death of Pope Francis with 88 years has been accompanied by a unique event in the world of football, the Category promotion of a team from southern Italy that always goes up when a Supreme Pontiff dies or abdicates.
He Avellino climbed to series B coinciding with the death of Pope Francis, fulfilling a Synchrony that persecutes him since 1958.
The Vatican has already shown the first images of the Pontiff.
Union Sportiv 48 hours later Pope Francis died.
The day Pope Francis received Avellino and signed the shirt
Interestingly, Pope Francis received Avellino in the Vatican in January 2025 and signed the football club shirt: “An extraordinary event that will remain in the history of the US Avelino. A few days ago, during a match in the Vatican, Pope Francis signed and blessed the green and white shirt.”
“I sincerely thank Pope Francis for this gesture of closeness and encouragement. His signature in our shirt is a sign that inspires us all to continue believing in our goals, inside and outside the field. We are sure that his blessing also brought us good luck,” said President Angelo Antonio D'Agostino after his encounter with the Pope.
The Avellino promotions that have coincided with the deaths, or resignation, of potatoes
In 1958 The rising of the Avellino to the fourth division coincided with the Death of Pope Pius XII.
In 1963 The 'wolves' rose again to series C with the Death of Pope John XXIII.
In 1978 The Avellino ascended with the Deaths of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul Ithe Pope of the 33 days. It was his first and only promotion to series A.
In 2005the year of the death of Pope John Paul IIthe team of the Lombardi Stadium-Adriano ascended to series B.
In 2013the year in which the Papa Benedict XVI officially resigned from his Pontifical Ministrythe Avelllino ascended again.
