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Pope Leo XIV Favors Peru Over U.S. in World Cup?
2 May
Summary
- Pope Leo XIV holds dual U.S. and Peru citizenship and extensive ties to Peru.
- Social media users selectively shared Pope Leo XIV's partial World Cup answer.
- In full context, Pope Leo XIV stated he is a fan of all teams as pope.
Social media users recently shared a partial transcript of Pope Leo XIV's response regarding a hypothetical FIFA World Cup match between Peru and the U.S. The widely circulated clips omitted his broader statement, which expressed appreciation for diverse cultures and his role as pope.
In a July 2025 interview with Elise Ann Allen of Crux, Pope Leo XIV was asked who he would cheer for if the U.S. and Peru competed. He initially responded, "probably Peru." This comment, reflecting his dual citizenship and extensive missionary and bishop service in Peru, gained traction online.
However, the full context of his answer reveals he also stated, "as pope I'm a fan of all the teams" regarding all sports. The selective sharing of his remarks created a skewed perception of his stance, neglecting his papal role as a supporter of all nations.
Peru and Italy, both mentioned by the Pope in his full answer, failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The complete interview, including his thoughts on his dual identity and the World Cup scenario, was published in September 2025.
