In the hours following Pope Leo XIV’s election announcement, reports emerged claiming that his loyalty belonged to the North Side. However, these reports were quickly challenged by others who stated that he actually supported the South Siders.
John Prevost, the Pope’s brother, confirmed that his brother is actually a White Sox fan, noting that their parents had split loyalties between the Cubs and the Cardinals. “Whoever said Cubs on the radio got it wrong. It’s Sox,” Prevost said, according to NBC.
Pope Leo XIV Attended the 2005 World Series
Despite the Chicago Cubs’ claims, it was firmly established shortly after Leo’s election that he grew up rooting for the White Sox. This was supported by his brother’s assertions and photographic evidence of him at a 2005 World Series game.
And now, Joe Binder, a blogger for Sox on 35th, unearthed footage of Leo clearly present for Game 1 of that World Series. In this clip, the soon-to-be Pope looks on as White Sox closer Bobby Jenks closes out a 5-3 win over the Houston Astros.
In response to the news, The White Sox issued a statement inviting the new Pope to Rate Field:
Family always knows best, and it sounds like Pope Leo XIV’s lifelong fandom falls a little closer to 35th and Shields,” the team said. “Some things are bigger than baseball, but in this case, we’re glad to have a White Sox fan represented at the Vatican. A pinstripe White Sox jersey with his name on it and a hat is already on the way to Rome, and of course, the Pontiff always is welcome at his ballpark.