US get World Cup prayer as Pope Leo roots for the home team

By Joshua McElwee

ABOARD THE ‌PAPAL FLIGHT, ​June ​6 (Reuters) - Pope Leo may have traded his life in Chicago for the ornate apartments at the ‌Vatican's apostolic palace, but he still plans to root ⁠for his old national team at the World Cup this month.

Leo, ‌the first U.S. leader of ‌the global Catholic Church, told a journalist aboard his flight from Rome to Madrid on Saturday that he ​will be supporting the U.S. soccer team when the 48-team tournament starts on Thursday.

"I would certainly support the ⁠U.S.," said the pontiff. "I don't know how many games I'll be able to see ​but I wish them all the best."

The U.S., who are co-hosting the tournament with Canada and ​Mexico, will play Paraguay, Australia and ‌Turkey in Group D.

Leo, originally from a south Chicago suburb, served as a missionary and ⁠bishop in Peru for decades before becoming pope. He said in an interview last year he would root for Peru over ⁠the U.S. in any soccer match-ups.

Peru failed to qualify for this year's ​tournament, opening up a papal blessing for the U.S. team.

The pope, who is on a week-long tour of Spain and the Canary Islands, ‌also revealed a firm preference on Saturday between bitter Spanish soccer rivals Real Madrid and ‌Barcelona.

Asked by another journalist which of those teams he roots ⁠for, Leo, born Robert ‌Prevost, paused briefly. "The ​pope is for all teams," he responded. "Prevost is for Real Madrid."

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Ken ‌Ferris)

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