BARCELONA, June 9 - Pope Leo met privately with Puerto Rican performer Bad Bunny at Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium on Monday evening, the Vatican said on Tuesday, and officials indicated that they did not expect to release photographs of the meeting.
In a statement, the Vatican said the pontiff made a short greeting to the reggaeton star - whose given name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio - along with his family and others present, before leaving the stadium. The record notes that Bad Bunny’s album "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" (I Should Have Taken More Pictures) won Album of the Year at this year’s Grammys.
The encounter took place as Pope Leo continues a week-long visit to Spain. During the trip he has cautioned that growing conflicts have pushed the world into what he described as a "profound crisis." The statement also recalled that the pope earlier this year drew the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump after criticising the Iran war.
Observers pointed out a coincidence noted in the Vatican statement - that both the pope and Bad Bunny have, at different times, elicited sharp criticism from Trump. The singer has been publicly critical of Trump’s hardline anti-immigration policies and supported former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential contest, the statement said.
Bad Bunny also reached a broad U.S. audience when he headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in February, bringing Spanish-language music and reggaeton rhythms to the broadcast. According to the Vatican statement, Trump described that performance as "absolutely terrible" and "an affront to the Greatness of America."
The Vatican’s note described the stadium meeting as brief and private, and did not provide further detail about the conversation or any follow-up plans. It was the extent of official comment on the encounter as both figures continued activities in Spain.
Context and immediate facts
- The meeting occurred at Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium on Monday evening.
- The Vatican said it did not expect to release photos from the meeting.
- Bad Bunny’s album "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" won Album of the Year at this year’s Grammys.
- Pope Leo is on a week-long tour of Spain and has warned of a "profound crisis" caused by escalating conflicts.