Pope Leo XIV (C) performs the Christmas mass at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on December 25, 2025. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

Pope Leo XIV lightened the mood aboard his flight to Spain on Friday after identifying with Spanish giants Real Madrid when asked about his football preference during a brief exchange with journalists.

Vatican News reports that the Pope made the remark while speaking with more than 80 journalists accompanying him on his Apostolic Journey to Madrid, the first stop of a week-long visit to Spain.

During the informal interaction, a journalist asked whether he supported Real Madrid or Barcelona, Spain’s two most successful football clubs.

Smiling, the Pope replied, “That’s easy: the Pope is for all teams, but Robert Prevost is for Real Madrid!”