Pope Leo XIV lightened the mood aboard his flight to Spain on Friday after identifying with Spanish giants Real Madrid when asked about his football preference during a brief exchange with journalists.
Vatican News reports that the Pope made the remark while speaking with more than 80 journalists accompanying him on his Apostolic Journey to Madrid, the first stop of a week-long visit to Spain.
During the informal interaction, a journalist asked whether he supported Real Madrid or Barcelona, Spain’s two most successful football clubs.
Smiling, the Pope replied, “That’s easy: the Pope is for all teams, but Robert Prevost is for Real Madrid!”
The comment triggered laughter among those present and quickly stood out as one of the lighter moments of the flight.
Pope Leo XIV is in Spain for meetings with ecclesial communities, civil authorities and the faithful. The visit is also expected to include engagements in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands.
During the same exchange, the Pope also reflected on global issues, reiterating his call for dialogue in conflict situations and expressing concern over ongoing international crises.
He spoke on the need for continued efforts toward peace, particularly in Ukraine, and also mentioned the situation in Lebanon, reaffirming the Church’s closeness to those affected by conflict and instability.
The Pope also addressed the issue of abuse within the Church, stressing the importance of continued attention to victims and ongoing efforts toward accountability and healing.
Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Spain is expected to include meetings with Church communities, civil authorities and the faithful across Madrid and other parts of the country.
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