MADRID, Spain — Pope Leo XIV visited Real Madrid’s iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Monday, where he held a meeting with the diocesan community of Madrid and was welcomed by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez.
Okay News reports that Pérez received the pontiff at the Bernabéu and presented him with a personalised Real Madrid jersey bearing his birth name, Robert F. Prevost, alongside the number one. The club president also gifted Pope Leo a replica of the renovated stadium. In return, the Pope presented Pérez with a commemorative medal during the exchange.
The meeting formed part of Pope Leo’s ongoing visit to Spain, which has drawn enormous public attention across the country. The Bernabéu event brought together members of Madrid’s Catholic diocesan community and highlighted the intersection of faith, culture and one of the world’s most recognised football institutions.
The visit came a day after more than one million people gathered in Madrid for an open-air Mass celebrated by Pope Leo at Plaza de Cibeles. The pontiff used the service to encourage compassion, solidarity and support for vulnerable communities, while urging believers to translate faith into practical action.
Spanish authorities maintained heightened security throughout the papal visit, which marks the first visit by a pope to Spain in about 15 years. The week-long trip is expected to include additional meetings with political leaders, religious groups and civil society representatives as Pope Leo continues his engagements across the country.
