Barcelona —
Two people have been drawing crowds in Spain in recent days: Pope Leo XIV and Bad Bunny. Popes fill stadiums and plazas for vigils and masses, and Puerto Rican rappers hold party-style megaconcerts for tens of thousands of people.
Now the Vatican has confirmed that the two met briefly in Madrid on Monday, but no photos or videos of that encounter have yet been released, which will be disappointing news for anyone hoping to see the first American-born pope next to the reggaeton superstar. A Vatican spokesperson said Pope Leo XIV met with the music artist “along with his family and others.”
On the flight from Rome to Madrid, the Pope downplayed the competition he faced from Bad Bunny, who was also in the Spanish capital. Saturday night’s gathering of the pope and young people in Madrid coincided with a Bad Bunny concert.
“If you’re faced with the question, do you want to see Bad Bunny or do you want to see the Pope, a lot of people will go see Bad Bunny,” he told CNN on the papal plane. “But I think there will be some people who will come to see the Pope. That’s saying something, too.”
Although both draw large audiences and, like the Pope, Bad Bunny often wears white, their messages are contrasting. Bad Bunny’s lyrics often refer to casual encounters with women, but on Saturday night, Pope talked about marriage as a profession. “Don’t be afraid to get married or start a family,” he told a crowd of about 600,000 people at Saturday’s vigil.
Nevertheless, Leo XIV and the rapper are both concerned about US immigration crackdowns and have faced criticism from President Donald Trump. The rapper was criticized by President Trump for his halftime performance at the Super Bowl in February, while the Pope has drawn the president’s ire for opposing the Iran war.
On Wednesday, the Pope visited Montserrat, the spiritual center of Catalonia. Later in the day, they will celebrate Mass at Barcelona’s iconic Sagrada Familia and inaugurate the tower that will be the world’s tallest church.
Immigration will be at the top of the agenda during the final stages of the Pope’s visit to Spain. The pope is scheduled to visit the Canary Islands, the main entry point into Europe for new arrivals, on Thursday and Friday. During his visit to Gran Canaria and Tenerife, Leo will meet migrants and the organizations that support them.
