{"id":37398,"date":"2026-06-09T13:12:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T13:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/37398\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T13:12:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T13:12:22","slug":"pope-leo-wades-into-spains-culture-wars-over-soccer-and-the-catalan-language-in-barcelona-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/37398\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Leo wades into Spain’s culture wars over soccer and the Catalan language in Barcelona | Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) \u2014 Pope Leo XIV<\/a> waded into two of Spain’s classic culture wars as he landed in Barcelona on Tuesday during his weeklong visit<\/a> to the country, but sought to defuse one quickly by speaking first in the Catalan language instead of Spanish upon his arrival.<\/p>\n

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 Bar\u00e7a<\/a>.<\/p>\n

kAm%96 @E96C >2EE6C H2D =:<6=J F?2G@:523=6] |2?J r2E2=2?D H2?E65 E96 A@A6 E@ DA62< >@C6 r2E2=2? AF3=:4=J :?DE625 @7 $A2?:D9[ H9:49 {6@ DA62:?2?E=J 5FC:?8 9:D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A@A6\\=6@\\D28C252\\72>:=:2\\32C46=@?2\\>@?ED6CC2E\\“g_cc3_hbgbg4bc_ad73hg3c_a7h`ffQmG:D:E E@ q2C46=@?2k^2m 367@C6 9625:?8 E@ E96 r2?2CJ xD=2?5D]k^Am<\/p>\n

k9am%96 A@A6 6G6? G:D:E65 #62= |25C:5\u2019D >FD6F>k^9am<\/p>\n

kAm\u201c%96 A@A6 \ud83d\ude00 7@C 2== E62>D[ 3FE !C6G@DE \ud83d\ude00 7@C #62= |25C:5Q H6C6 E96 H@C5D E92E D62=65 {6@VD DA@CE:?8 72E6 H:E9 >2?J 2 q2C\u00e72 72? H96? 96 C6DA@?565 E@ 2 BF6DE:@? @? E96 A2A2= A=2?6 6? C@FE6 E@ $A2:?]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAm|25C:5 AC@F5=J A@DE65 E96 G:56@ @7 E96 >@>6?E[ 2?5 D@4:2= >65:2 7:==65 H:E9 4@>>6?ED 23@FE 9@H |25C:5 \ud83d\ude00 \u201cE96 E62> @7 v@5]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n

kAm%@>\u00e1D #@?46C@[ 2 A@AF=2C DA@CED 4@>>6?E2E@C 7@C E96 H:56=J C625 $A2?:D9 DA@CED 52:=J p$[ D2:5 \ud83d\ude15 2 G:56@ E92E \u201cE96 A@A6 42?\u2019E 36 7@C q2C\u00e72 3642FD6 :E \ud83d\ude00 2 D:?7F= 4=F3 ]]] \ud83d\ude15 9:D 962CE 96 \ud83d\ude00 @7 2 AFC6 2?5 4=62? 4=F3 =:<6 |25C:5]Qk^Am<\/p>\n

kAmu@C >2?J ?@?\\|25C:5 72?D[ 6DA64:2==J E9@D6 \ud83d\ude15 $A2:?\u2019D C68:@?D H:E9 5:776C6?E =2?8F286D 2?5 DEC@?8 =@42= :56?E:E:6D =:<6 r2E2=@?:2[ #62= |25C:5 \ud83d\ude00 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 DEC@?8 46?EC2= A@H6C] |2?J 4@?D:56C :E 2=>@DE 2 A:==2C @7 E96 DE2E6[ 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 46?EC2= 8@G6C?>6?E 2?5 E96 r2E9@=:4 r9FC49]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAm%96 A@A6 2=:8?65 9:>D6=7 4=@D6=J H:E9 |25C:5 5FC:?8 6G6?ED \ud83d\ude15 E96 42A:E2=] w6 G:D:E65 #62= |25C:5\u2019D >FD6F> E@ A6CFD6 :ED A24<65 EC@A9J 42D6 H:E9 4=F3 AC6D:56?E u=@C6?E:?@ !\u00e9C6K[ H9@ 82G6 9:> 2 |25C:5 D9:CE H:E9 \u201c#@36CE u] !C6G@DE\u201d @? E96 324<]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAm~? |@?52J[ E9@FD2?5D @7 r2E9@=:4D A24<65 E96 9@>6 G6?F6 @7 #62= |25C:5 7@C 2 C2==J H:E9 E96 A@A6 762EFC:?8 52?46CD <:4<:?8 D@446C 32==D H9:=6 5C6DD65 \ud83d\ude15 E96 H9:E6 2?5 J6==@H 4@=@CD @7 E96 w@=J $66]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAm\u201c%@52J E96 r9FC49 \ud83d\ude15 |25C:5 92D D4@C65 2 8C62E 8@2= E@ 2=H2JD 36 C6>6>36C65P\u201d {6@ D2:5]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAmu@=<\/p>\n

kAm\u201cp 7:8FC6 2D :>A@CE2?E 2D 96 \ud83d\ude00 D9@F=5?\u2019E E2<6 D:56D] }@H E92E 96 92D D2:5 E92E 96 DFAA@CED #62= |25C:5[ H6==[ x 2> D@CCJ[ 96 92D >6DD65 :E FA[Q D2:5 t5F2C5 |@5C@\u00f1@[ 2? @77:46 H@C<6C 2?5 q2C46=@?2 72?]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAm|@5C@\u00f1@ DA@<6 @FED:56 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A@A6\\=6@\\D28C252\\72>:=:2\\32C46=@?2\\>@?ED6CC2E\\“g_cc3_hbgbg4bc_ad73hg3c_a7h`ffQm$28C252 u2>:=:2k^2m 32D:=:42[ H96C6 E96 A@A6 @? (65?6D52J H:== 9@=5 2 |2DD \ud83d\ude15 E96 >2;@C 6G6?E @7 9:D DE@A \ud83d\ude15 $A2:?\u2019D D64@?5 4:EJ]k^Am<\/p>\n

k9am!@A6 368:?D 9:D 9@>:=J \ud83d\ude15 q2C46=@?2 H:E9 r2E2=2?k^9am<\/p>\n

kAm{6@ 3682? 9:D 9@>:=J 2E q2C46=@?2\u2019D 42E965C2= H:E9 2 76H H@C5D \ud83d\ude15 r2E2=2? 2?5 DH:E4965 36EH66? :E 2?5 $A2?:D9 \ud83d\ude15 9:D 7:CDE AF3=:4 255C6DD \ud83d\ude15 E96 4:EJ]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAm\u201cq6=@G65 3C@E96CD 2?5 D:DE6CD[ :E \ud83d\ude00 H:E9 8C62E A=62DFC6 E92E x DE2CE >J G:D:E 9@=5:?8 E96 >:552J AC2J6C 2E E9:D 42E965C2=[\u201d 96 D2:5 \ud83d\ude15 r2E2=2?]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAmr2E2=2? 2?5 $A2?:D9 2C6 DA@<6? D:56\\3J\\D:56 H:E9@FE AC@3=6> \ud83d\ude15 r2E2=@?:2 3FE 2C6 @7E6? H62A@?:K65 A@=:E:42==J]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAmr2E2=2?[ DA@<6? 3J D@>6 `_ >:==:@? A6@A=6[ H2D DFAAC6DD65 3J $A2:?VD a_E9\\46?EFCJ 5:4E2E@CD9:A F?56C uC2?4:D4@ uC2?4@] r2E2=2?D C6>2:? AC@E64E:G6 @7 E96:C E@?8F6[ 2?5 :ED DFCG:G2= H2D 2? :>A@CE2?E 5C:G6C @7 D6A2C2E:DE D6?E:>6?E 5FC:?8 2 C646?E AFD9 7@C :?56A6?56?46 E92E C624965 :ED A62< \ud83d\ude15 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^32C46=@?2\\DA2:?\\8@G6C?>6?E\\2?5\\A@=:E:4D\\de2bdf4`a76652h3cc_b25_fc`fch`f5Qm72:=65 3C62<2H2J 3:5 \ud83d\ude15 a_`fk^2m]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAm!@A6D y@9? !2F= xx 2?5 q6?65:4E )’x FD65 D@>6 r2E2=2? H96? E96J G:D:E65 q2C46=@?2 \ud83d\ude15 `hga 2?5 a_`_[ C6DA64E:G6=J] $A2:?\u2019D <:?8 DA62 ?@?\\r2E2=2? DA62<:?8 C68:@?D E@ 5@ D@]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAm%96 A@A6 DA62<:?8 2 76H H@C5D \ud83d\ude15 r2E2=2? >2J ?@E 36 6?@F89 7@C >2?J C6D:56?ED]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAm\u201c$A62<:?8 E96 =2?8F286 @7 E96 =2?5 E92E H6=4@>6D J@F \ud83d\ude00 2 H@?56C7F= 24E @7 =@G6 2?5 C6DA64E] x 9@A6 J@F 6?;@J J@FC G:D:E E@ r2E2=@?:2[ >J ?2E:@?[\u201d |\u00edC:2> }@BF6C2D\u2019 A@=:E:42= A2CEJ[ yF?ED[ D2:5 D96 E@=5 E96 A@?E:77 \u2014 \ud83d\ude15 t?8=:D9 \u2014 H96? E96J 3C:67=J DA@<6 2E $A2:?\u2019D A2C=:2>6?E @? |@?52J]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAm%96 2C493:D9@A @7 q2C46=@?2[ yF2? y@D\u00e9 ~>6==2[ 92D EC:65 E@ 5@H?A=2J E96 :DDF6]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAm\u201c%96 A@A6 6H 367@C692?5 E92E 96 \ud83d\ude00 4@>:?8 E@ 2 4@F?ECJ Wr2E2=@?:2X H96C6 A6@A=6 DA62< 2 G6CJ @=5 =2?8F286 E92E 92D ?6G6C 366? =@DE E9C@F89 E96 46?EFC:6D[\u201d ~>6==2 E@=5 C6A@CE6CD] \u201cw6 @HD E9:D 2?5 92D AC6A2C65 9:D DA66496D 2?5 9:D 9@>:=J[ H9:=6 <66A:?8 \ud83d\ude15 >:?5 E92E 96 42? @?=J 5@ D@ >F49 2?5 5@6D?\u2019E H2?E E@ 6?5 FA =@@<:?8 D:==J \ud83d\ude15 2 =2?8F286 96 5@6D?\u2019E DA62<]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n

kAmu@C |@5C@\u00f1@[ E96 D@446C 72?[ DA62<:?8 \ud83d\ude15 r2E2=2? \ud83d\ude00 >@C6 :>A@CE2?E E92? 2?JE9:?8 C6=2E65 E@ DA@CED]k^Am<\/p>\n

kAm\u201cxE \ud83d\ude00 2 =24< @7 C6DA64E ?@E E@ DA62< 6?E:C6=J \ud83d\ude15 r2E2=2?[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"BARCELONA, Spain (AP) \u2014 Pope Leo XIV waded into two of Spain’s classic culture wars as he landed…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":37399,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[9948,1220,984,17885,1010,1743,17,396,394],"class_list":["post-37398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-spain","tag-catholic-church","tag-general-news","tag-language","tag-pope-leo-spain-barcelona-real-madrid-catalan","tag-religion","tag-soccer","tag-spain","tag-sports","tag-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37398"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37398\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}