Pope Leo XIV held a private meeting with Bad Bunny on Monday evening as both happened to be touring Spain, albeit for markedly different reasons.
The Vatican confirmed the high profile link up the following day, according to The Washington Post, and stated that the pope met the Puerto Rican singer, his family, and other people — offering them a quick greeting at Madrid’s Bernabéu stadium. No photos from the meeting are expected to be released to the public, said the Vatican.
Bad Bunny kicked off his 10-night residency at Riyadh Air Metropolitan last month as part of his global tour in support of his opus Debí Tirar Más Fotos. The stint in Madrid marks his first time in Spain in eight years and one of the largest ever staged by a Latin artist in Europe.
The star’s audience is rivaled only by the pope’s, of course. Leo’s papal event at Santiago Bernabéu on Monday drew a reported crowd of some 80,000 people. WaPo states that he is closing in on nearly 2 million in-person spectators across various events throughout his 13-month papacy.
When speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane last Saturday, Leo recognized Bad Bunny’s appeal among young people, adding that youth today “are looking for something more … [a] spiritual dimension in their lives. They realize there’s an emptiness, and a lack of a sense of meaning.”
“If they are confronted with the question do they want to see Bad Bunny or do they want to see the pope, I think many will see Bad Bunny,” Leo said. “But I think there will also be a few here to see the pope. And that says something.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV held a brief private meeting with Bad Bunny, the singer’s family, and others on Monday evening, June 8, 2026. The Vatican said no photographs from the encounter are expected to be released to the public.
The greeting took place at Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, where Pope Leo XIV held a papal event that same evening. Both the pontiff and the Puerto Rican singer happened to be in the Spanish capital at the same time, for very different reasons.
Bad Bunny was in Madrid for his Debí Tirar Más Fotos world tour, beginning a 10-night residency — his first Spanish dates in eight years and among the largest runs staged by a Latin artist in Europe. Pope Leo XIV was there for a papal event.
Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane, Leo acknowledged the singer’s pull with young people, saying many would choose Bad Bunny over the pope. He suggested young people today sense an emptiness and are searching for a spiritual dimension and a sense of meaning.
The pope’s event at Santiago Bernabéu drew a reported crowd of about 80,000. According to the Washington Post, Leo is approaching nearly two million in-person attendees across events over the course of his 13-month papacy.
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