Pope Leo XIV arrived in Madrid on June 6, 2026, beginning his visit to Spain which will last until June 12. Upon arrival, he was asked about his favorite team—Real Madrid or Barcelona. The Pontiff replied he supports all teams, but his staff member Robert Prevost is a Real Madrid fan.
Tomás Roncero, a dedicated Real Madrid follower, commented on the Pope’s response in an interview with Diario AS. He said, "The Pope cannot be for Barça because it is a sinful club. He knows about Barça’s involvement with Negreira, the financial levers, and the inclusion of players after the deadline."
The journalist expressed his opinion that the Pope has a list in the Vatican confessional of Barça members "who need to confess." Roncero insists that the Pope could not identify with a club associated with such allegations.
In contrast, Roncero emphasized Real Madrid's distance from institutional controversies. "He might be lenient and bless the sinful club, but truly, he supports a clean and pure club—Real Madrid—not just because it is white," the journalist stated.
