Pope Leo jokes about Bad Bunny and which football teams he supports ahead of Spain trip

Pope Leo revealed he'll be backing the USA and that he supports Real Madrid as he began a visit to Spain.

The Pope also joked that people would rather watch rapper Bad Bunny, who is performing in Madrid at the same time as his visit, than see one of his own speeches.

When asked by a reporter if he preferred Real Madrid or Barcelona, the Chicago-born pope said he personally "is for Real Madrid".

The pontiff's trip, the first by a pope in 15 years, will include inaugurating a new tower in Barcelona's Sagrada Familia basilica, addressing Spain's parliament and a meeting with migrants in Tenerife.

After being greeted on the tarmac by the country's Catholic monarchs, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the Pope addressed a crowd in Spain's Royal Palace as he appealed to political leaders to invest in educating young people to appreciate diversity and complexity, rather than shunning them.

"Today, the temptation to gain popularity by fanning the flames of polarisation seems to have grown rather than diminished, and human dignity continues to be violated.

"For the love of truth, I invite everyone to set aside the divisive and polarising narratives of your societal reality and history," he said.

Doing so will help Europe "overcome sterile simplifications through the fruitful appreciation of complexity."

Football allegiances and concert clashes

The Pope also confirmed he will root for his native US in the upcoming World Cup, but confirmed his footballing allegiances when asked between fierce rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"The Pope is for all teams, but Prevost is for Real Madrid," he said, referring to his last name that's used outside of the papacy.

The Pope, who was born Robert Prevost, also recognised his visit to the Spanish capital clashed with two concerts by Puerto Rican music sensation Bad Bunny.

"When confronted with the question 'Do I go see Bad Bunny or do I go to see the pope?' I think many will go to see Bad Bunny," he joked.

But he said he believed many would also go to see him during his time in Spain.

He added: "And that too says something, you know. So I think that's encouraging, and I hope to be able to encourage people to continue searching."

What else is on the Pope's agenda in Spain?

Pope Leo is expected to give more than 20 speeches during his week-long visit to Spain.

Bruni said the pontiff will likely decry wars raging around the world and urge dialogue to overcome growing political and social polarisation while in Spain.

The Vatican confirmed late on Friday that Leo would meet with survivors of sexual abuse by the Spanish Catholic Church.

The highlight of his visit will be a speech next week in both chambers of Spain's parliament, where he will become the first pope to make such an address.

Later in the week, he will celebrate Mass in the Sagrada Familia in midweek, where he will mark the centenary of the death of its architect Antoni Gaudí.

Leo will also inaugurate the basilica's central spire, the Tower of Jesus Christ, which made Sagrada Familia the tallest church in the world when it was moved into place.

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The final stop on his trip will be the Canary Islands, a key destination for migrants leaving West Africa, where he will meet with migrants and humanitarian organisations providing care for them.

Leo's work helping migrants follows in his predecessor Francis' footsteps, who also pushed for dignified treatment of migrants.

He is expected to throw a wreath of flowers into the sea in Las Palmas in memory of migrants killed crossing the Atlantic Ocean from West Africa.

Immigration is also a key topic for Leo's visit to Spain, who angered Donald Trump by criticising the US president's anti-immigration policies.

He is set to meet with both migrants and organisations dedicated to helping them when he visits the Canary Islands.

Speaking to reporters on the flight to Madrid from Rome, the first American head of the Catholic Church says he was making his visit to set a good example to the world about respect for human life.

"We can give a very good message…of charity and respect for every human being," he said.

Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican's press office, added that the situation migrants face is profoundly close to the pope's heart.

"These are people, and their stories must touch us," he said.

(c) Sky News 2026: Pope Leo jokes about Bad Bunny and which football teams he supports ahead of Spain trip