Pope Leo's Interests: Tennis, Social Media, and Preserved Seafood

New Pope Shakes Things Up

VATICAN CITY - Fresh off the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S. leader of the Catholic Church, leaves a lasting impression. But, beyond the red robes and the White Sox hat, who is this man?

Sports and Sox

The new pope is a diehard Chicago White Sox fan, outshining their city rivals the Cubs in a spiritual rivalry. When the Cubs boldly claimed he was one of them, Pope Leo's brother John immediately stepped in, spilling the beans to local broadcaster WGN: "He was always a Sox fan."

Leo isn't just a baseball enthusiast; he's also smitten with Alianza Lima, the football team of Peru's capital, currently fifth in the Liga 1 table. He's even got a killer backhand on the tennis court, according to Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.Why play tennis when there's work to be done, you might ask? Well, apparently, Pope Leo also moonlighted as a gardener at a local church during his college days at Philadelphia's Villanova University.

Humble Beginnings

Pope Leo found his calling among the poor and marginalized in Peru, earning his nationality in 2015. He was partial to traditional Peruvian dishes like goat, duck, rice, and ceviche (a popular global dish featuring marinated fish). However, his love for Peruvian cuisine was matched only by his dedication to aiding those living on the outskirts of society, as testified by his former diocese, Chiclayo.

Pope Leo is no stranger to social media, boasting a long history of posts for his followers (and critics) to pour over. When U.S. President Donald Trump praised his election as an honor for the U.S., far-right trolls on Elon Musk's X tagged him as a 'Woke Marxist Pope.' But don't be fooled—as you scroll through Pope Leo's timeline, you'll find a man of unwavering principles.

He's spoken out against racism, sexual abuse within the clergy, Covid-19, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, making his voice heard on the most pressing issues of our time. He's also been vocal in his criticism of Trump's anti-immigration policies, questioning the idea that Christians should prioritize their love for their family, neighbors, community, and fellow citizens hierarchically.

In a repost on Feb 3, just three months before he was elected pope, he echoed, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others." Over the past 14 years, Pope Leo has shared his thoughts on various hot-button issues 400 times, aiming to make a difference, one post at a time.

Despite Trump designating English as the official language of the United States in March, Pope Leo chose to address the Vatican crowd in Italian, Latin, and his beloved Spanish, the language of Peru. This unexpected move left the crowd in awe, with many traveling from Spanish-speaking countries, eager to see who would succeed Pope Francis, an Argentine. The cheerful response was a testament to the warm bond shared by the Catholic Church and the Latin American community.

Pope Leo's love for sports extends beyond the Vatican, as he supports the Chicago White Sox and Alianza Lima, showcasing his enthusiasm for baseball and football respectively.
In his college days, before ascending to the papacy, Pope Leo was known to demonstrate a keen interest in tennis and even worked as a gardener at a local church in Pennsylvania.
Born in Peru, Pope Leo earned his nationality in 2015 and was deeply connected to his Peruvian roots, appreciating traditional Peruvian dishes such as goat, duck, rice, and ceviche.
Pope Leo's digital footprint is vast, with years of social media posts where he addresses various hot-button issues, including racism, sexual abuse within the clergy, Covid-19, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In a repost on February 3, three months before his election as pope, he opposed the idea proposed by JD Vance that Christians should prioritize their love for their family, neighbors, community, and fellow citizens hierarchically.
Displaying his diplomatic skills, Pope Leo shocked the crowd at his first address in the Vatican, speaking in Italian, Latin, and his native Spanish, a gesture that resonated greatly with the Latin American community present.