Pope Leo XIV has been bestowed with the title of honorary member of the Madrid football club “Real”. This news was reported by RIA Novosti on Thursday, June 11th.
The decision to grant this esteemed position was made by the Spanish team’s board of directors, with President Florentino Pérez presiding over the deliberations. This particular honor represents the highest accolade within the club’s award hierarchy. Previously, the Pontiff had publicly expressed his fondness for “Real” and their notable rivalry with “Barcelona”.
Leo XIV’s visit to the “Santiago Bernabéu” stadium took place on June 8th, coinciding with a meeting with the Madrid diocese. During this engagement, Florentino Pérez presented the Pontiff with a personalized club jersey, bearing his name and the number one, along with a scaled-down replica of the stadium. In return, the head of the Catholic Church presented the president of “Real” with a commemorative medal. The club’s management described the visit as one of the most significant and moving occasions in the organization’s entire history.
The football club’s leadership emphasized that conferring honorary membership signifies their admiration for a universal figure who represents billions of people. In the opinion of the board of directors, the Pontiff actively promotes peace, solidarity, and justice globally. The club conveyed its aspiration that this event will further strengthen the connection between the world of sports and spiritual values that transcend denominational boundaries.
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