Surprise meeting between Papa Leon and Bad Bunny at the Bernabéu stadium in Madrid. The common point of the two: Donald Trump
Pope Leo had a brief private meeting with Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny at Madrid's Bernabéu stadium on Monday night while both were in Spain, the Vatican said on Tuesday, saying it did not plan to release photos of the meeting.
According to a Vatican statement, the pope met with the reggaeton star, whose album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” (“I should have taken more photos”) won Album of the Year at this year's Grammy Awards. The meeting was also attended by the artist's family members, as well as other people.
The Pope gave them a short greeting before leaving the stadium, the statement also states, according to Reuters.
Pope Leo, who drew the ire of US President Donald Trump earlier this year after criticizing the Iran war, is on a week-long tour of Spain, where he has warned that the escalation of conflict has pushed the world into a “deep crisis”.
Coincidentally, pissing off Trump is something the pope and Bad Bunny have in common.
The singer, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has repeatedly criticized Trump's tough anti-immigration policies and endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party's 2024 presidential candidate.
Bad Bunny headlined February's Super Bowl halftime show, bringing Spanish and reggaeton beats to the stage of one of the most watched sporting events in the United States.
Trump then described the performance as “absolutely appalling” and “an insult to the greatness of America.”
Papa Leon, in “competition” with Bad Bunny in Spain: “I think many choose to see him”
The Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny will perform two concerts as part of his Spanish tour, which includes 10 shows, in the capital Madrid.
Leon acknowledged the allure of Bad Bunny when he referred to anecdotal accounts of a new spiritual awakening, particularly among young people in Spain. The American pontiff said he understood that young people feel a lack of meaning in their lives and suggested that his visit could help “awaken” something in them.
“If they were asked the question, 'Do you want to go see Bad Bunny or do you want to go see the Pope?', I think a lot of people would choose to see Bad Bunny,” he said. “But I think there will be a few who will come to see the Pope. And that's saying something, you know.”
