The first American pope was elected last week, with Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost ascending to the title of Pope Leo XIV after a vote in Vatican City.
The sports world quickly came to appreciate that Pope Leo XIV was not just from America—he was from Chicago.
While there’s a good chance a man known as the “Vicar of Christ” does not hold hate in his heart for any sports team, there was nonetheless a rush to discover just which teams Pope Leo XIV supported. Turns out, he’s a White Sox fan.
On Friday, with the Chicago Cubs hosting the Chicago White Sox in a crosstown rivalry game, White Sox fans decided to head into enemy territory dressed up as the team’s most famous fan.
Pope Count: 1 pic.twitter.com/bf4id6KHFD
— jon greenberg (@jon_greenberg) May 16, 2025
The Pope's are out on a Friday afternoon at Wrigley pic.twitter.com/ZuICWRxSUH
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 16, 2025
GETTING A BLESSING: The Pope is here, that is popes (plural) for the Chicago Cubs vs the White Sox at 1:20pm at Wrigley Field. @maitaiguy0 @murphysbleacher @Bleacher_Bunch @BleacherJeff @crawlyscubs @CubsBallhawk_ @realcubsinsider @Cubs @wapella pic.twitter.com/zSKmThd2iw
— Mark Weyermuller (@publicpolicyman) May 16, 2025
Chicago isn’t the only part of the baseball world having a bit of fun with the new pope—the Texas Rangers' Jake Burger, a Catholic, has started using the sign of the cross as his celebration after hitting a double.
The power of The Pope. https://t.co/w1YkOH5ZY6 pic.twitter.com/J9yOIbzCmM
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) May 16, 2025
While a White Sox turnaround would really be something, Chicago’s true test of faith will come when the Bears kick off their season in September.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as White Sox Backers Dressed As Their Most Famous Fan for Game Against Cubs.
