The year 2022 was a special one in the life of Rafael Nadal on the personal front. He welcomed his first child, Rafael Nadal Jr with his wife Xisca. The Spaniard has often been spotted spending adorable moments with his toddler son. Recently, the 22-time Grand Slam champion took a religious step despite declaring himself an atheist.

On multiple occasions, Nadal has spoken about atheist beliefs and why he doesn’t believe in God. However, he kept his beliefs aside as he initiated his son into Catholicism. The ceremony took place last Sunday in the Mallorcan town in Spain, weeks after Nadal’s exit from the French Open.

Rafael Nadal Jr. was reportedly baptized in the presence of his family members in the church of Crist Rei. The ceremony was due for a long time and Nadal was waiting for the clay-court season to get over before he could get his son dipped in holy water. Notably, Rafael Nadal Jr. also made it to some tournaments like the Madrid Open to watch his father play.

The ceremony wasn’t a traditional mass gathering but a private one and Nadal had only hired a photographer to capture glimpses from that ceremony. The church was chosen keeping in mind the proximity with Nadal’s residence and it has always been the preference of the family. Meanwhile, this move by Nadal has surprised many, considering the fact that he is an atheist. Nadal once even made a shocking revelation about his beliefs.

Rafael Nadal once explained why he doesn’t believe in God

Time and again, the Spaniard has given interesting opinions about day-to-day topics. On one such occasion, he spoke about why he doesn’t believe in God. When asked if he does have faith in God, Nadal revealed, “It’s hard to say ‘I don’t believe in God. I would love to know if God exists. But it’s very difficult for me to believe…If God exists, he’s intelligent enough to do the important things, the right things.”

Additionally, Nadal once even admitted that he was not a very religious person. Although born in a family which was religious and educated, the Spaniard didn’t share the religious beliefs, although he respects them. Thus, he might have baptized his son on the religious background of his family despite him being a non-believer.

Interestingly, Nadal was brought up as a Catholic due to his upbringing in Spain. As times passed, he didn’t consider himself to be a devout follower of Catholicism as an adult.