One of Pope Leo’s Best Friends Works in Spain. They Talk About Cars. NYT - Top Stories By: Jason Horowitz 9 June 2026 at 10:12 Pope Leo and Armando Jesús Lovera have known each other for decades. They have watched World Cup games together, gone on road trips and once searched for a teddy bear for Mr. Lovera’s future wife. © Gianfranco Tripodo for The New York TimesArmando Jesús Lovera in Valladolid, Spain, at the local headquarters of the Augustinian order.