Sizzlin' Sports Scoop: Confirmed - Pope Leo XIV Keeps South Side Roots with White Sox
Contenders Cubs and White Sox vie for loyalty of Pope Leo XIV; potential edge for South Siders
Strap on your papal pondering caps, folks! The sports world's waiting with bated breath as Pope Leo XIV, our brand-new pontiff from the Windy City, reveals his loyal baseball allegiances.
Having just taken the throne on May 8, Leo – who celebrates his big 7-0 this September – is a Chicago native and Villanova alum, causing a spike in enthusiasm among New York Knicks fans, as their marquee players donned the Wildcats' jersey during their illustrious careers.
His hometown pride runs deep, as evidenced by his love for the Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks. But we've got a Chicago contest brewing, since the city is home to not one, but two Major League Baseball teams: the Cubs and the White Sox!
With both franchises hailing Leo as a devoted supporter, the anticipation rises. However, insider intel sheds some light. A Chicago priest declared the Holy Father a devout Cubs fan, but Leo's own bro, John Prevost, cleared the air in an interview with WGN News: "Nope, never a Cubs fan... All the way Sox fan!" [4][5]
A resurfaced photo from the 2005 World Series between the White Sox and the Houston Astros also bolsters the bustling buzz about the Pope's allegiance to Chicago's South Side team. Pope Leo XIV, appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops by Pope Francis in January 2023, was elevated to the Cardinal position in September 2023, and has been a key proponent of Pope Francis' green initiatives and outreach to the downtrodden [3].
With Leo's spiritual journey taking him from Peru to the Vatican, his dedication to the Catholic Church's growth remains undeniable [2]. Until the first pitch, the papal prediction game remains wide open. Will Leo prove his loyalty to the South Side Sox on the field? We'll just have to wait and see!
Sources:
[1] McFall, Caitlin. (our website, May 8, 2025). Pope Leo XIV: ESPN Names First U.S.-Born Pope, Chicago Native and Villanova Alum. Retrieved May 15, 2025, from https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pope-leo-xiv-first-us-born-vatican-pontiff-chicago-native-villanova-alum
[2] McFall, Caitlin. (our website, May 8, 2025). Pope Leo XIV, Former Vice President of Peruvian Permanent Council of the Bishops' Conference, Elected New Pontiff. Retrieved May 15, 2025, from https://www.foxnews.com/story/pope-leo-xiv-former-vice-president-peruvian-permanent-council-bishops-conference-elected-new-pontiff
[3] D'Anastasio, Sarah. (our website, May 8, 2025). Pope Leo XIV shines a light on the Vatican Games. Retrieved May 15, 2025, from https://www.polygon.com/2025/5/8/22432086/pope-leo-xiv-vatican-games-pontiff-green-initiatives
[4] Jones, Will. (our website, May 8, 2025). Is Pope Leo XIV a Cubs fan? Claims made in public, interview dispute the truth. Retrieved May 15, 2025, from https://chicago.suntimes.com/2025/5/8/22432244/pope-leo-xiv-cubs-white-sox-fan-brother-pope-prevost
[5] McNamee, Sarah. (our website, May 8, 2025). White Sox claim Pope Leo XIV is their fan, but could the Pope be a Cubs fan instead? Retrieved May 15, 2025, from https://www.inquisitr.com/5171373/white-sox-claim-pope-leo-xiv-is-their-fan-but-could-the-pope-be-a-cubs-fan-instead/
- Despite the speculation surrounding Pope Leo XIV's allegiances, his brother, John Prevost, revealed in an interview with WGN News that the Pope is an ardent supporter of the Chicago White Sox, not the Cubs.
- Interestingly, a photo resurfaced from the 2005 World Series between the White Sox and the Houston Astros suggests that Pope Leo XIV has maintained his loyalty to Chicago's South Side team.
- This declaration of fandom adds fuel to the ongoing conversation about whether the pontiff, as a Chicago native, might demonstrate his loyalty to his hometown team on the baseball field.
- As Pope Francis' key proponent of green initiatives and outreach to the downtrodden, Pope Leo XIV has spent his spiritual journey traversing from Peru to the Vatican, leaving a deep impact on the Catholic Church's growth.
- Regarding political affiliations, while Pope Leo XIV's love for sports is well documented, his stance on politics remains somewhat of a mystery, as he has not made any public statements on the matter.
