Pope Leo XIV poses in Mexican jersey, calls for unity at World Cup

Pope Leo XIV donned a Mexican national soccer team jersey, using the moment to convey a message of unity ahead of the 2026 World Cup. During his pastoral visit from Rome to Madrid, the pontiff emphasized the power of sports to unite people across borders.

Valentina Alazraki, a correspondent for N+, presented the Pope with a jersey from the official Mexican team uniform. The Pope linked the upcoming World Cup tournament to the Catholic Church's monthly prayer intention, which is dedicated to athletes this month.

"The prayer this month is for athletes and the importance of sport. I wish everyone a competition that helps foster unity in the world; that we see that sport can unite everyone, with discipline, with play, but above all with seriousness and sacrifice," Pope Leo XIV stated.

When asked about his World Cup preferences, the Pope, who was born in the United States but served as a bishop in Peru, responded with humor. He noted that neither Peru nor Italy would be participating in the tournament, adding, "Let's see" which smaller countries might surprise. The image of the Pope in the Mexican jersey quickly circulated on social media and news outlets shortly before the tournament's commencement, where Mexico aims for a strong start against South Africa.

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The prayer this month is for athletes and the importance of sport. I wish everyone a competition that helps foster unity in the world; that we see that sport can unite everyone, with discipline, with play, but above all with seriousness and sacrifice.