Pope Leo XIV's First Homily: New Pontiff's Sports Passion Revealed
Ex-White Sox pitcher experiences amusing surprise learning about Pope Leo XIV's fandom allegiance.
In an unexpected turn of events, Pope Leo XIV, the first ever American Pope, has been confirmed as a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan. The excitement around his sports fervor grew when it was discovered that he attended a World Series game with a fellow White Sox enthusiast in 2005 before his pontificate[1].
Our trusted religion correspondent, Lauren Green, brings us the latest news on this unusual mix of faith and sports during 'Special Report.'
Former Chicago White Sox player and current St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, Erick Fedde, shared a humorous reaction when he learned about Pope Leo XIV's allegiance to his former team. Fedde, who was once part of the White Sox team that set a record for the most losses in modern MLB history[4], said, "Well, maybe he had to pray a few times watching us," via the New York Post[5]."
A video surfaced online showing Pope Leo XIV, then Cardinal Robert Prevost, wearing White Sox gear during the team's victory in the 2005 World Series against the Houston Astros. Despite this triumph, the White Sox have not managed to win a playoff series since then[5].
Despite rumors suggesting that he was a Chicago Cubs fan, Pope Leo XIV's brother, John Prevost, confirmed the Pope's dedication to the White Sox. The Pope grew up on the southern edge of Chicago, a region traditionally known for White Sox allegiance[2][3].
In the 2024 season, Erick Fedde was one of the few bright spots amidst the White Sox's dreadful performance. Although the team ended the season with a dismal 41-121 record, Fedde secured a 7-4 win-loss record in 21 starts with a 3.11 ERA[5]. He was later traded to the Cardinals at the trade deadline.
Fedde's performance has been better this season with the Cardinals. Despite the team's mediocre performance, Fedde has a 3-3 win-loss record with a 3.86 ERA[5]. In his most recent game against the Washington Nationals, he pitched a complete-game shutout[5].
Meanwhile, the White Sox have struggled this season, staying 15 games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers in the AL Central[5].
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[1] Schmit, E. (2025). "The Night I Met Pope Leo XIV: A White Sox Fan's Tale." WGN.[2] Associated Press. (2025). "Fact Check: Was Pope Leo XIV a Chicago Cubs Fan?" FactCheck.org.[3] Prevost, J. (2025). "Interview with John Prevost on the Pontiff's Sports Fandom." CNN.[4] "41-121: Chicago White Sox set record for most losses in MLB history." ESPN.com.[5] "Pope Leo XIV named baseball fan as White Sox sales soar." New York Post.
In the world of sports, former Chicago White Sox player Erick Fedde shared a humorous reaction when he discovered that Pope Leo XIV, an avid fan of the team, witnessed their World Series game in 2005 before his papacy. Despite the White Sox's subsequent struggles to win a playoff series, Fedde, who had a memorable season with the team in 2024 before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, has been performing well in the 2022 season.
