{"id":581,"date":"2026-06-06T14:36:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T14:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=581"},"modified":"2026-06-06T14:36:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T14:36:58","slug":"pope-leo-xiv-acknowledges-stiff-competition-with-bad-bunny-in-spain-and-weighs-in-on-soccer-rivalry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=581","title":{"rendered":"Pope Leo XIV acknowledges stiff competition with Bad Bunny in Spain and weighs in on soccer rivalry"},"content":{"rendered":"
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ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) \u2014 Pope Leo XIV<\/span> is competing for attention with another VIP in Madrid this weekend, and the pontiff declared his preference in Spain\u2019s biggest soccer rivalry.<\/p>\n

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Puerto Rican sensation Bad Bunny<\/span> is performing two shows of his 10-concert Spanish tour in the capital.<\/p>\n

Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane before his arrival in Madrid<\/span> on Saturday morning, Leo acknowledged the appeal of Bad Bunny when he referred to anecdotal reports of a newfound spiritual awakening, especially among young people in Spain.<\/p>\n

The American pope said he understood that young adults are sensing a lack of meaning in their lives and mused that his visit might help \u201cawaken\u201d something in them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they are confronted with the question \u2018Do you want to go see Bad Bunny or do you want to go to see the pope?\u2019 I think many will see Bad Bunny,\u201d Leo said. \u201cBut I think there will also be a few here to see the pope. And that says something, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Leo is opening a weeklong visit to Spain<\/span> on Saturday. After Madrid, the trip will also take him to Barcelona and the Canary Islands<\/span>. He\u2019s hoping to bring a message of unity in a country polarized with political and church scandals<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Leo was also asked about news that plans are moving ahead for his beloved Chicago Bears to move to Hammond, Indiana. The board of the team voted this week to move forward with a stadium development project in Hammond.<\/p>\n

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Asked if he had any words of consolation for Illinois, the Chicago-born pope quipped: \u201cThat\u2019s out of my pay (scale).\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Ukraine targets St. Petersburg again after Putin rejects Zelenskyy\u2019s offer for direct talks<\/a><\/p>\n

In other sporting comments, Leo confirmed that he would root for the United States in the upcoming World Cup, and showed his true team colors when asked about whether supports Real Madrid<\/span> or the Barcelona soccer team<\/span>: \u201cThat\u2019s easy,\u201d he said. \u201cThe pope is for all teams, but Prevost is Real Madrid,\u201d he said, referring to his birth name.<\/p>\n

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Pope recalls his father\u2019s service on D-Day anniversary<\/h2>\n

Leo fielded a host of questions as he greeted journalists traveling with him. He spoke about Ukraine and Lebanon and his recent proclamation that the Catholic Church\u2019s \u201cjust war\u201d doctrine \u2014 which establishes the criteria when war can be morally justified \u2014 was \u201coutdated.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Saturday marking the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, Leo also told a French journalist that he would like one day to visit Normandy, France, as pope.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father was there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

It was a reference to Leo\u2019s father, Louis Prevost, who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and participated in the D-Day landings at Normandy as part of Operation Overlord, according to the Pentagon.<\/p>\n

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