Aboard his papal flight en route to Spain on Saturday, the first American-born pope, Leo XIV, opened up to reporters with a mix of serious reflection on his pastoral mission and lighthearted quips about unexpected cultural and sporting topics ahead of his seven-nation tour.
His arrival in Madrid this weekend coincides with two back-to-back concerts from global Puerto Rican music superstar Bad Bunny, who is currently touring across Spain. When the pope was asked about anecdotal reports of a growing spiritual hunger among young Spanish people, he acknowledged the massive cultural draw of the Bad Bunny shows in good humor. He admitted that if young people were forced to choose between the pop star’s concert and an event with the pontiff, most would opt for the music. “If they are confronted with the question ‘Do you want to go see Bad Bunny or do you want to go to see the pope?’ I think many will see Bad Bunny,” Leo told reporters. “But I think there will also be a few here to see the pope. And that says something, you know.”
Leo, who grew up in Chicago, said he recognized that many young adults across contemporary Europe are grappling with a widespread sense of emptiness and a lack of purpose in daily life. He expressed hope that his week-long tour across Spain would help spark a new spiritual awakening, reaching those who are open to exploring faith amid the noise of modern life.
The tour, kicking off Saturday in Madrid, will next carry Leo to Barcelona before wrapping up with a stop on the Canary Islands. The pastoral trip comes at a fraught moment for Spain, which is currently deeply divided by bitter political divides and fresh scandals that have shaken both the national government and the Catholic Church in the country. Leo’s core mission for the visit is to deliver a unifying message, seeking to bridge divides in a nation where the Church carries a long and complex historical legacy in an increasingly secular society.
Beyond matters of faith and church leadership, reporters pressed Leo on two high-profile sporting topics close to his personal background. First, he was asked about a recent vote by the Chicago Bears board of directors, which gave the green light this week to move forward with plans to relocate the franchise from Chicago to a new proposed stadium in Hammond, Indiana. When asked if he had any words of comfort for heartbroken Chicago fans, the pontiff joked that the issue falls far outside his area of authority. “That’s out of my pay (scale),” he quipped.
Turning to Spanish soccer, Leo was asked to pick a side between the country’s two most iconic and bitter rivals: Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. The pope demured lightly, noting that as the universal leader of the Catholic Church, he supports all teams. But he revealed his personal allegiance ties back to his civilian life, saying “Prevost is Real Madrid” in a nod to his birth name before being elected to the papacy. He also confirmed he would throw his support behind the United States men’s national team in the upcoming FIFA World Cup.