Pope Leo XIV meets Bad Bunny in private at Madrid's Bernabéu, joining two Trump critics

The private audience

On Monday evening, Pope Leo XIV met Bad Bunny in a private audience at Santiago Bernabéu stadium, the Vatican confirmed Tuesday. The pontiff had just addressed a crowd of some 80,000 as part of his week-long visit to Spain. Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, was accompanied by his family and a few others.

Yes, I confirm it. He greeted them briefly before leaving the stadium.

No photos of the encounter have been released, and Spanish media reported the two teams are still deciding when to publish them.

Two icons converge

The meeting capped days of speculation after the pope and the Puerto Rican megastar found themselves in Madrid simultaneously. Leo XIV arrived Saturday and Bad Bunny is in the middle of a 10-concert residency at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium. On his flight to Madrid, the pope had mused about the pairing:

If they were asked, 'Do you want to see Bad Bunny or do you want to see the Pope?', I think many will go see Bad Bunny. But I also think a few will come to see the Pope. And that says something.

Bad Bunny's team had contacted the Spanish Episcopal Conference weeks earlier to request the meeting, according to RTVE.

A shared target: Donald Trump

Both figures have drawn harsh criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Leo XIV, the first American pope, condemned the U.S.-led war in Iran and called the Trump administration's immigration crackdown "inhuman." Bad Bunny, for his part, chanted "ICE out" at the Grammy Awards and performed a Super Bowl halftime show delivered entirely in Spanish, which Trump called "absolutely terrible." At that Super Bowl, the singer told the audience:

The only thing stronger than hate is love.

Bad Bunny's Catholic background

Raised in Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny was an altar boy in his local parish where his mother taught catechism and he sang in the children's choir until age 13. The 32-year-old has said he no longer practices any religion but holds on to the positive values he learned. His latest Grammy-winning album, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," blends reggaeton with traditional Puerto Rican rhythms and addresses the island's colonial status.

The pope's itinerary continues

On Tuesday, Leo XIV traveled to Barcelona. The highlight comes Wednesday when he will inaugurate the Jesus Tower of the Sagrada Família basilica. At 172.5 meters, it is the world's tallest church tower. The consecration falls on the 100th anniversary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí. Later in the week, the pope heads to the Canary Islands to address migration, before returning to Rome on Friday.

1. Jun 6, 2026Pope Leo XIV arrives in Madrid for a week-long Spain visit.
2. Jun 7, 2026Corpus Christi mass draws 1.2 million people in Madrid; Spanish princesses attend.
3. Jun 8, 08:00 PMPope addresses 80,000 at Santiago Bernabéu, then meets Bad Bunny and family privately.
4. Jun 9, 2026Vatican confirms the meeting; Pope travels to Barcelona.
5. Jun 10, 2026Inauguration of Jesus Tower at Sagrada Família, marking Gaudí centenary; Bad Bunny resumes concerts.
6. Jun 11, 2026Pope visits Canary Islands to address migration; Bad Bunny's second concert this week.
7. Jun 12, 2026Pope returns to Rome.