Pope Leo XIV arrived in Barcelona as part of a weeklong tour of Spain, drawing crowds eager to see the first American-born pontiff to set foot in the Catalan capital.
During his stay he chose to address the local audience in Catalan, a language that has long carried political weight in the region, and the gesture was met with mixed reactions.
A Papal Visit Amid Rivalries
The pope’s public allegiance to Real Madrid quickly became a flashpoint, with many Barcelona supporters viewing the club as a symbol of central Spanish authority and reacting sharply to his preference.
He toured the club’s museum, received a signed jersey, and later presided over a rally at the Santiago Bernabéu that attracted thousands, underscoring the intersection of faith and football.
While the archbishop of Barcelona downplayed the symbolic importance of the language choice, longtime Catalan advocate Eduard Modroño argued that speaking the tongue remains a vital expression of identity.
The episode also revived memories of Catalan suppression under Gen. Francisco Franco, a period that still informs contemporary debates about regional autonomy and cultural preservation.
Previous popes have used Catalan on visits to Barcelona, and some residents expressed appreciation for the current pontiff’s effort, even as the broader conversation about language, sport and power continues to unfold.