Spanish pop star, 29, is arrested on suspicion of sexual assault just 48 hours after singing in front of Pope Leo

By GERARD COUZENS and TARYN KAUR PEDLER, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 20:57, 11 June 2026 | Updated: 20:57, 11 June 2026 A Spanish pop star has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, just 48 hours after singing in front of Pope Leo XIV in Barcelona. Francisco Javier Alvarez Beret, better known by the mononym Beret, is understood to have been held in his home city of Seville this morning. The 29-year-old, who has 1.2 million followers on Instagram, is said to have appeared before a judge at a specialist court dealing with violence against women this afternoon. A decision on whether he will be remanded in custody or released on bail has not yet been taken, and it is not clear what public prosecutors are recommending. Singer-songwriter Beret sang in front of the Pope during his ongoing week-long visit to Spain at the Olympic Stadium in the Catalan capital on Tuesday. He performed at a massive youth prayer vigil attended by over 40,000 people, delivering a welcome message to the head of the Catholic Church and singing his track 'Superheroes' accompanied by a Catalan children's choir. He had previously performed for a pontiff when he sang alongside Italian artist Mr Rain at a Vatican event for Pope Francis in November 2023. No further details have emerged about the accusation being levelled against Beret or how the arrest took place, although police sources have been quoted as saying the alleged assault occurred in April. Francisco Javier Alvarez Beret, better known by the mononym Beret, is understood to have been held in his home city of Seville this morning Singer-songwriter Beret sang in front of the Pope during his ongoing week-long visit to Spain at the Olympic Stadium in the Catalan capital on Tuesday A view of the Gran Canaria Stadium during a Mass with Pope Leo XIV in Las Palmas at the Canary Island, Spain, Thursday, June 11, 2026 Beret is one of the trendiest singer-songwriters in Spain. His first major hit was the song 'Lo siento' - 'I'm Sorry' in English - with which he leapt to Latin America. He has collaborated with Colombian artist Yatra and Spanish singer Aitana, among others. In November 2025, he released his fourth album. The singer is due to perform in London and Dublin in November as part of a world tour. The Pope is currently in Gran Canaria after visiting Madrid and Barcelona. Pope Leo began a two-day visit to the Canary Islands on Thursday by listening to the stories of migrants who have travelled across the Atlantic to reach Europe. 'You are not numbers or files, you are people,' the Pope told a gathering on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, adding that he 'bowed' before their dignity.  While visiting the southern port of Arguineguín - often used by migrants and dubbed the 'Port of Shame' - Pope Leo stressed the need for alternative 'legal and safe pathways' above all.  He called on the 'conscience of Europe' not to 'grow accustomed' to its seas becoming unmarked graves or to a world where 'so many risk death to seek life.'  The Pope issued an urgent appeal for compassion, responsibility and solidarity, insisting that 'human dignity has no passport and does not lose its value when crossing a border.'  The Pope then threw a wreath of flowers into the waves in memory of all the dead, lowering his head to pray.  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.