Pope Leo wades into Spain’s culture wars over soccer and the Catalan language in Barcelona | Sports

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Pope Leo XIV waded into two of Spain’s classic culture wars as he landed in Barcelona on Tuesday during his weeklong visit to the country, but sought to defuse one quickly by speaking first in the Catalan language instead of Spanish upon his arrival.

The U.S.-born pontiff earlier rubbed soccer fans in Barcelona the wrong way by saying he actually roots for Real Madrid instead of their beloved Barça.

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