Sometimes, the most unexpected spark lights up a city. In the middle of a frustrating season and dwindling fan energy, something rare happened on Chicago’s South Side—something that did not come from a star or a big trade. Instead, it came from Pope Leo XIV. He is someone with far deeper ties to the Chicago White Sox than most would expect

The noise began quickly, and the White Sox had a new reason to trend—and Pope Leo XIV had everything to do with it. In the beginning, it looked like a feel-good rumor. The first American pope, and also a Sox fan? Born and raised on the South Side? It did not take long before the digital world confirmed it—the Pope is not only a man of God, but also a man of baseball. And Chicagoans were thrilled for it.

Grandstand Sports, the beloved local sports store, was overwhelmed as White Sox fans flooded in to grab custom Pope Leo XIV jerseys. In fact, some were even using the Roman numeral ‘XIV’ to lean into the holiness of the hype. Orders did not just come from the neighborhood; they arrived from all over the U.S., Canada, and U.S. military bases overseas.

While the need hit like a home run, the team’s approach to the frenzy was more of a bunt. The team honored the holy star with a pregame tribute video Friday; however, beyond that? Crickets. No limited-edition merch drops, no cassock-themed city connect uniforms, and no quick cash grab. Will Venable’s team chose reverence over revenue. “Obviously, we are going to be respectful to him and make sure we are doing things the right way,” said the senior VP of marketing of the team, Brooks Boyer. A devout Catholic himself, Boyer understands the value of such a moment, not just for MLB but for faith.

That balance between celebrating the excitement and honoring the spiritual significance is why the team is moving carefully. “It would be premature to comment in any detail,” Scott Reifert said in an email, “but safe to say, we are having fun and creative conversations with the Chicago Archdiocese.” So while the White Sox fans are customizing jerseys in-store, do not expect to see mass-produced Pope-themed products anytime soon. For the team, this is not just viral marketing—it is a spiritual line they are not willing to cross.

Additionally, in true South Side style, the personal stories keep it grounded. The VP of marketing shared how his son’s teacher said that Pope Leo XIV once did his graduation mass at St. Rita High School. Such a link is what is driving this entire moment. “It is like the first time the pope is a real person,” he said. Boyer added, “It is super awesome he is a Sox fan”.

Pope Leo’s White Sox memories run deep

Before the miters and the Vatican balconies, there were bleacher seats and scorecards. A heartwarming aspect of Pope Leo’s story is not just that he is a die-hard White Sox fan—it is how long and how deeply that loyalty has run. Long before he became the head of the Catholic Church, Robert Prevost could be identified among the faithful at Guaranteed Rate Field, soaking in South Side baseball with his brother John. One now-viral World Series clip from 2005 shows Pope Leo with the fans, subtle but unmistakable in a Sox jersey—a snapshot of history nobody knew they were capturing.

However, that was not a one-off moment. The longtime neighbors and friends say the Prevost brothers shared multiple White Sox memories growing up. Whether it was trading baseball cards, listening to AM radio play-by-plays, and arguing about the lineups in their home, the team was a stable. Even after moving to Italy, Pope Leo kept himself updated on the happenings of the Windy City and baseball.

Sometimes he would even call his brother post-game to discuss an interaction about the bullpen and marvel at a clutch double play. Their MLB connection never faded. For Pope Leo XIV, cheering for the White Sox was not just a hobby. It was—and still is—a love that ties together family.

In a period when sports and spirituality rarely overlap so effectively, the story of Pope Leo XIV and the team looks like a divine curveball. It is not just about fandom—it is about the roots, reverence, and finding unexpected joy. Want more moments where faith and fandom collide? Stay tuned with us. ‘Cause this story is just getting started.

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