pope-leo-xiv/" target="_blank">Pope Leo XIV may be a man of God, but even the Holy Father has earthly loyalties. Robert Francis Prevost roots for the white and gold.
Somewhere over the Mediterranean as he traveled to Spain, a reporter posed the question that has divided Spain for a century: Real Madrid or Barcalone?
The Pope smiled wide.
“That’s easy,” he said. “The Pope is for all teams. But Prevost is Real Madrid.”
Real Madrid vs Barça? “That’s easy…the Pope is for all teams, but Prevost is Real Madrid” #españa@Pontifexpic.twitter.com/MJQn41QSw5
— Elise Ann Allen (@eliseannallen) June 6, 2026
The line landed with laughs on the plane. Separating the office from the man inside it was a smart political move. Robert Francis Prevost has been Pope Leo XIV for barely a year, but he has remained very much connected to his world-wide flock through sports.
This is the same man who trolled a Cubs fan at the Vatican last October. When he heard a “Go Cubs!” shout from the crowd, Leo responded with a grin and “Han perdido! They lost!” The Cubs had just been bounced from the playoffs and Leo was not going to let that go.
Before he was pope, Robert Prevost sat in Section 140, Row 19, Seat 2 for Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, his beloved White Sox last championship. When a Chicago native shouted “God bless the White Sox!” as the popemobile rolled through Rome this spring, Leo responded with a thumbs up and a smile.
The Real Madrid declaration fits right in.
Leo’s trip is the first papal visit to Spain in 15 years. Benedict XVI was the last pope there for World Youth Day in 2011. Leo is expected to deliver a historic address to parliament and will travel through Madrid and through Barcelona.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pope Leo XIV reveals his favorite soccer team on trip to Spain
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