Robert Prevost Supports Real Madrid’ — Pope Leo XIV Sparks Laughter on Flight to Spain

Pope Leo XIV drew laughter from journalists aboard his flight to Spain on Friday after revealing his personal football preference during a light-hearted exchange en route to Madrid.

According to Vatican News, the Pope made the remark while speaking with more than 80 journalists travelling with him on his Apostolic Journey to Spain, the first leg of a week-long pastoral visit across the country.

During the informal interaction, a journalist asked the Pontiff whether he supported Spanish football giants Real Madrid or Barcelona.

With a smile, Pope Leo XIV responded, “That’s easy: the Pope is for all teams, but Robert Prevost is for Real Madrid!”

The comment, referring to his birth name, immediately sparked laughter among those on board and became one of the most memorable moments of the journey.

Beyond the light-hearted football banter, the Pope used the exchange to address several pressing global issues. He reiterated his call for dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts around the world, expressing particular concern over the ongoing war in Ukraine and the situation in Lebanon.

The Pontiff stressed the importance of sustained efforts toward peace and reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s solidarity with people affected by violence, instability, and humanitarian crises.

Pope Leo XIV also spoke about the issue of abuse within the Church, emphasizing the need for continued support for victims as well as ongoing commitments to accountability, transparency, and healing.

The Pope’s visit to Spain is expected to feature meetings with Church communities, civil authorities, and the faithful in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.

The week-long trip marks another significant international engagement for the Pontiff as he continues to promote peace, dialogue, and pastoral outreach across different regions of the world.