The Pope confesses, during his flight to Spain, that he is a Real Madrid fan

Pope Leo XIV confessed this Saturday, during the flight that took him to Spain for the start of his visit to several cities until the 12th, that, although the figure of the pontiff “belongs to all teams”, he “is a Real Madrid fan”. Speaking with journalists traveling with him on the papal plane, the Holy Father, who as prior of the Augustinians made about 50 trips to Spain, joked about football and acknowledged that, although the pope “belongs to all teams”, the American Robert Francis Prevost “is a Real Madrid fan”, although he did not specify further details.

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When Prevost was elected pope in May 2025, the ‘merengue’ club congratulated him through an official statement, wishing him “a prosperous future at the head of the Catholic Church and the Christian community” and expressed “certainty” that his pontificate “will contribute to further deepening peace, solidarity, fraternity, and justice in the world”. Francis’s successor, who was a recognized football lover and, in particular, a fan of Argentina’s San Lorenzo, is another great sports enthusiast, particularly tennis and baseball. Furthermore, due to the time he lived in Peru, for which, in addition to being American, he holds Peruvian nationality, he developed a certain fondness for football.

During the official agenda of the trip that began this Saturday in Madrid and will also take him to Barcelona, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife, the pontiff will include among his activities a meeting with representatives of culture, art, economy, and sport at the Movistar Arena in the capital, on Sunday the 7th, and a day later a massive gathering at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, where Real Madrid plays as local. Asked on board the papal plane if he had learned any Catalan, the pontiff assured that he “only knows how to say bon día”.

Florentino Pérez: “It’s a source of pride that the Pope is a Madrid fan”

Florentino Pérez, acting president of Real Madrid and candidate for re-election, this Saturday gave the Pope a “welcome” to Spain and declared that for all supporters it is “a source of pride” that Leo XIV is a follower of the white team. The top leader of Real Madrid, in his closing campaign speech before this Sunday’s elections in which he will face Enrique Riquelme, took the opportunity to dedicate a few words to Leo XIV, who arrived this Saturday in the Spanish capital, where he will stay until Tuesday, the day he will leave for Barcelona. “I would like to welcome Leo XIV to Spain. Today he said on the plane that was taking him to Spain from Rome that he is a Real Madrid fan and that is a source of pride for us. Welcome, Holiness,” said Florentino, in his speech.

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