Real Madrid adds Pope Leo to its ranks
Pope Leo XIV, who recently visited the Estadio Bernabéu, has been named an honorary member of LaLiga giants Real Madrid.
Real Madrid had a busy Thursday off the field. Three official statements were released. In addition to a communiqué confirming José Mourinho as the club’s next head coach on a three-year deal, Florentino Pérez was once again proclaimed club president, now through 2030. With this, alongside his new Board of Directors, he kicks off his eighth term after winning last Sunday’s presidential election against Enrique Riquelme, securing 65% of the vote.
Pérez posed for the club’s official media following the proclamation alongside part of his new board, which is now formally constituted as follows:
- Florentino Pérez Rodríguez, MEMBER No. 1,484: PRESIDENT
- Eduardo Fernández de Blas, MEMBER No. 4,040: VICE PRESIDENT
- Pedro López Jiménez, MEMBER No. 10,321: VICE PRESIDENT
- Enrique Sánchez González, MEMBER No. 11,707: VICE PRESIDENT
- Enrique Pérez Rodríguez, MEMBER No. 5,302: VICE PRESIDENT
- José Luis del Valle Pérez, MEMBER No. 40,441: SECRETARY
- Jerónimo Farré Muncharaz, MEMBER No. 1,823: BOARD MEMBER
- Manuel Cerezo Velázquez, MEMBER No. 9,185: BOARD MEMBER
- José Sánchez Bernal, MEMBER No. 10,367: BOARD MEMBER
- Manuel Torres Gómez, MEMBER No. 11,787: BOARD MEMBER
- Manuel Gómez Barrera, MEMBER No. 14,388: BOARD MEMBER
- Gumersindo Santamaría Gil, MEMBER No. 14,784: BOARD MEMBER
- José Manuel Otero Lastres, MEMBER No. 16,033: BOARD MEMBER
- Nicolás Martín Sanz-García, MEMBER No. 17,859: BOARD MEMBER
- Manuel Redondo Sierra, MEMBER No. 22,351: BOARD MEMBER
- Catalina Miñarro Brugarolas, MEMBER No. 47,022: BOARD MEMBER
- José Ángel Sánchez Periáñez, MEMBER No. 47,654: BOARD MEMBER
- Francisco García Sanz, MEMBER No. 51,999: BOARD MEMBER
- Donato González Sánchez, MEMBER No. 56,092: BOARD MEMBER
Honor for Leo XIV
Additionally, the club’s board agreed to name Pope Leo XIV an honorary member of Real Madrid - the highest distinction the club can bestow.
In a statement, the club said: “Real Madrid expresses its admiration and recognition for a universal figure who represents billions of people and promotes peace, solidarity, and justice in the world. His visit to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on June 8, 2026, was an honor for Real Madrid and will forever remain as one of the most moving moments in our history.”
The pope took part in a gathering with the diocesan community at the Castellana stadium last Monday, and he also made clear his affection for Real Madrid during his trip to Spain’s capital. During the journey, a journalist asked him which team he supports: “That’s easy... the pope is for all teams, but Prevost is Real Madrid,” the pontiff quipped, in a reference to his secular second name.
List of Real Madrid honorary members
- Antonio de Páramo (1903)
- Alfonso Senior (1952)
- Joseph Blatter (2006)
- Felipe Calderón (2008)
- Vicente del Bosque (2011)
- Plácido Domingo (2011)
- Rafael Nadal (2012)
- Fernando Alonso (2012)
- Sergio García (2012)
- Julio Iglesias (2012)
- Pedro Ferrándiz (2017)
- Carlos Sainz (2021)
- Luka Dončić (2021)
- Alejandro Sanz (2021)
- Robert F. Prevost (2026)
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