Pope Leo XIV sparked laughter among journalists on Friday after playfully revealing his football allegiance during a flight to Spain, joking that while the Pope supports every team, he personally favours Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The Pontiff made the remark while speaking with more than 80 journalists travelling with him on his Apostolic Journey to Spain, according to Vatican News. The trip marks the beginning of a week-long pastoral visit that will take him to several parts of the country.
During an informal conversation aboard the flight, a journalist asked the Pope whether he supported Real Madrid or Barcelona, Spain’s two most successful football clubs.
With a smile, Pope Leo XIV replied, “The Pope is for all teams, but Robert Prevost is for Real Madrid.”
The response, referring to his birth name before becoming Pope, drew laughter from those on board and quickly became one of the memorable moments of the journey.
Beyond the light-hearted football discussion, the Pope addressed a range of pressing global issues. He renewed his appeal for dialogue and peaceful resolutions to ongoing conflicts around the world, particularly the war in Ukraine.
He also expressed concern over the situation in Lebanon, reaffirming the Catholic Church’s solidarity with communities affected by violence, instability and humanitarian challenges.
On the issue of abuse within the Church, Pope Leo XIV stressed the need for continued support for victims and sustained efforts to ensure accountability, justice and healing.
The Pontiff is expected to meet with Church leaders, government officials and Catholic faithful during his visit, with scheduled engagements in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands.
His trip is aimed at strengthening ties with local Catholic communities while addressing key spiritual and social issues facing the Church and the wider world.
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