Grammy-winning Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Bad Bunny had a short private encounter with Pope Leo at Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium Monday night while both were visiting Spain, Vatican officials confirmed Tuesday. The Vatican indicated it would not be sharing photographs from the meeting.
The Vatican’s official statement revealed that the pontiff greeted the reggaeton star, whose record “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” (I Should Have Taken More Pictures) earned Album of the Year honors at this year’s Grammy Awards, along with his relatives and additional individuals. The pope provided them with a brief welcome before departing the venue, the statement noted.
The pontiff, who faced criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump this year following his condemnation of the Iran war, is currently conducting a seven-day Spanish tour during which he has cautioned that growing global conflicts have placed the world in “profound crisis.”
Interestingly, both the pope and Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, share the experience of provoking Trump’s displeasure.
The musical artist has been vocal in condemning Trump’s strict anti-immigration stance and endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Bad Bunny served as the main performer for the Super Bowl halftime show in February, introducing Spanish-language music and reggaeton beats to the yearly American football championship event. Trump described the performance as “absolutely terrible” and “an affront to the Greatness of America.”
