During his recent visit to Spain, Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, sparked headlines by revealing a personal favorite soccer club. The pontiff, known for occasional forays into popular culture, joked that his allegiance to Real Madrid exists apart from his official duties, a light‑hearted comment that underscored his long‑standing connection to the sport.
This is not the first time the Pope has intertwined his public persona with athletics; last October he good‑naturedly teased a Cubs supporter at the Vatican, and he once attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series as a self‑declared White Sox fan, a nod to his Chicago roots that still surfaces in conversation.
Football, faith and the papacy
The Spain trip marks the first papal visit to the country in fifteen years and will see Pope Leo XIV deliver a historic address to the Spanish parliament before moving on to Madrid and Barcelona, where he is expected to meet with local leaders and cultural figures.
Observers note that the Pope’s playful references to football reflect a broader pattern of engaging with everyday interests, a strategy that humanizes the papacy while maintaining its solemn responsibilities.