Pope Leo XIV found a diplomatic way to answer Spain’s most loaded soccer question, but still made his Real Madrid loyalty clear.
The moment reportedly came on the papal flight to Spain, when a reporter asked him to choose between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
It was a question that could have cornered any visitor, but Leo managed to separate his role from the person behind it and found an answer that landed perfectly.
Pope Leo XIV Real Madrid answer settles Barcelona debate
Reporting from Elise Ann Allen captured the Pope’s playful response when asked which side he takes in Spain’s biggest soccer rivalry.
“That’s easy,” he said. “The Pope is for all teams. But Prevost is Real Madrid.”
It was a clever way to protect the universal role of the papacy while still letting the man be honest. The Pope cannot belong to one club, but Prevost clearly can.
The line also fit the occasion. Leo was traveling to Spain for a major visit that included both Madrid and Barcelona, so picking a side needed some humor and careful wording.
Pope Leo XIV sports fandom stretches beyond Real Madrid
The Real Madrid admission did not come out of nowhere. Since becoming Pope, Leo has often used sports as a bridge to connect with people, rather than keeping it separate from his public life.
His baseball loyalties have drawn the most attention. As a Chicago native, he has long been linked to the White Sox, even attending Game 1 of the 2005 World Series.
He has also shown a sharper side around the Cubs. When someone shouted “Go Cubs” at the Vatican, he reportedly joked back that they had lost.
That is what made the Madrid answer feel authentic. It was not a rehearsed public-relations line, but the kind of response you get from someone who understands what it means to be a fan.
For Real Madrid fans, it was the kind of endorsement nobody can officially claim too loudly, but everyone will remember. For Barcelona fans, at least the Pope kept the office neutral.
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