Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi pays tribute to Pope Francis following his death at 88 in emotional post

The Pope, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed. According to the Holy See, the Pope’s passing came after he suffered a severe cerebral stroke that led to a coma and eventually heart failure. His death comes just weeks after a hospital stay in which he received treatment for pneumonia and a complicated lung infection - ailments that had significantly weakened his health.

Tributes to the late Pope quickly flooded social media platforms, and Messi stood out with a particularly emotional message, reflecting both on Pope Francis’ global impact and his Argentine heritage.

“A distinguished Argentinian Pope. Rest in peace, Pope Francis,” Messi wrote. “Thank you for making the world a better place. We will miss you.”

@leomessi Instagram

The message accompanied a poignant image from August 13, 2013, when the Argentine and Italian national teams met the Pope ahead of a friendly match in Rome. The meeting took place in the elegant Sala Clementina at the Vatican, where both nations had the opportunity to share tokens of their appreciation with the pontiff.

The Argentine delegation brought several notable items, including a silver serving tray, a framed portrait of René Pontoni - one of Bergoglio’s football idols during his youth - a jersey signed by the entire squad, and an official pennant from the Argentine Football Association. In return, Pope Francis offered an olive tree, a traditional emblem of peace, as a gesture of hope and harmony through sport. Messi graciously accepted the gift on the Argentina squad's behalf.

As tributes to Pope Francis continue to pour in, Messi and his club, Inter Miami, are preparing for an eventful summer. The Major League Soccer side is vying for a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, with the first leg of their semi-final tie against the Vancouver Whitecaps set to take place on Thursday.