In a mix of history, faith and baseball, the new Pope Leo XIV has been confirmed as a Chicago White Sox fan, dispelling rumors linking him to the Cubs. This revelation, which took place at Guaranteed Rate Field, connects the new pontiff in a very special way to his hometown.
The news was officially shared by the White Sox on Thursday, May 8, 2025, just after the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new leader of the Catholic Church, succeeding Pope Francis, who died in April. “Hey Chicago, he’s a Sox fan,” read on the stadium screens, where it was also announced that a personalized jersey and official cap are already on their way to the Vatican.
His brother clarifies the story
John Prevost, brother of the new Pope, was the one who came out to clarify the erroneous reports linking him to the Cubs, fierce rivals of the White Sox:
“He was never a Cubs fan, I don’t know where that came from,” he said in a local interview.
While the pope’s family also followed the St. Louis Cardinals, his brother revealed that from a young age Robert always preferred the White Sox, a fact that the team itself highlighted with the phrase:
La familia siempre sabe más
John Prevost
The first U.S. and Peruvian pope
Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, was born 69 years ago in Chicago, Illinois.
He also obtained Peruvian nationality in 2015, after serving as a missionary and bishop for decades in Peru.
His election as the first U.S. pontiff in history has been seen as a milestone in and out of the religious world.
A pope with the soul of a fanatic
Buzzy
Although baseball is not a priority at the Vatican, the White Sox team assured that the pope will always be welcome at their stadium.
The franchise, one of MLB ‘s most traditional with titles in 1906, 1917 and 2005, has faced difficult years recently.
However, it now boasts a very special fan.
This unexpected link between religion and sports has caused sympathy among Chicago’s Hispanic community and MLB fans across the United States.
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