Bad Bunny vs Pope? Leo XIV Jokes About Youth Choices As Madrid Sees Huge Vigil Turnout

Pope Leo XIV opened his Spain visit with light-hearted remarks about competing for attention with Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny , while also addressing youth disengagement, football loyalties, migration, and his broader diplomatic mission during a packed Apostolic Journey.

Speaking aboard the papal plane, Pope Leo XIV said many young people in Madrid might choose concerts over religion when asked whether to see him or Bad Bunny, acknowledging the strong pull of global pop culture among European youth . He added that his visit was aimed at helping “awaken” a renewed sense of meaning among younger generations.

Despite the remark, the pope drew enormous crowds in Madrid, with reports estimating up to 500,000–600,000 people attending a public vigil, many of them young. The gathering included chants of support and moments of music and prayer, reflecting what officials described as a strong youth-driven response to the visit .

The pontiff’s Spain programme spans a week-long tour covering Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands , with over 20 scheduled speeches. His agenda includes meetings with Spain’s leadership, cultural figures, migrants, and Church representatives, as part of a broader effort to address political polarization, social inequality and migration challenges .

Leo also drew attention for his sporting comments, confirming support for the United States in the World Cup and joking that while the pope supports all teams, “Prevost is Real Madrid,” referencing his birth name. His remarks about football rivalry quickly went viral in Spain.

He also referenced his father’s service in the D-Day landings at Normandy , expressing interest in visiting the site, and briefly joked about Chicago Bears relocation speculation, saying it was “out of my pay scale.”

Church officials said the visit blends pastoral outreach with diplomacy amid a rapidly secularising Spain.