Mr. Robert Francis Prevost, who is more lovingly known as Pope Leo XIV, has been the sovereign of the Vatican City since 2025, after the sad demise of Pope Francis on Apr 21. Mr. Prevost was born in Chicago, IL, and is the first pope to have been born in North America. Alongside that, he is also the first pope to hold American as well as Peruvian citizenship.
While the sovereign performs his priestly duties and spreads the message of love and harmony globally, he is also a keen baseball fan. Hailing from the USA, which is the home of the MLB, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Pope Leo is a fan of the game, but it was much discussed as to what his favored ballclub is, since the city he hails from in America has two teams in the MLB, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox.
Pope Leo XIV Sports a White Sox Hat at the Vatican
On Wednesday, the Pope was observed sporting a White Sox hat when he stepped outside the Apostolic Palace to take a stroll and meet with his devotees. FOX Sports on MLB shared the exclusive image of the pope in a post on X.com sporting the White Sox hat.
Pope Leo XIV is wearing a White Sox hat at the Vatican pic.twitter.com/otKQk2lHfJ
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 11, 2025
MLB fans were quick to notice the post and voiced their differing takes on the image. Many Cubs fans voiced their surprising reaction to the Pope leaning towards the White Sox.
Some of the comments read, “Catholic Cubs fans are down horrendously,” commented one fan. “I thought he’d be a Cubs fan, tbh,” commented another fan. “The Pope needs to switch to the Cubs. The Sox are in last place…unless he performs a miracle,” commented yet another fan.
While most others hilariously commented that the Pope’s support might finally help the ailing White Sox to get back to winning ways. Some of the comments read, “20.5 games back. They’ll need his help,” one fan commented.
20.5 games back. they’ll need his help…
— stockchartsai (@stockchartsai) June 11, 2025
“Thanks, Mr. Pope. All of WS fans need all the help we can get,” another fan commented.
Thanks, Mr. Pope. All of WS fans need all the help we can get…
— John Tammes (@john_tammes) June 11, 2025
“They need all the help they can get,” yet another fan commented.
The Chicago White Sox Have Been Down Bad
The White Sox have been struggling in both departments of the game for over two seasons now. In 2023 and 2024, they lost a combined 227 games, of which 121 losses came in the previous season as they sat dead last in the AL Central division. The struggles from the past two seasons have continued in 2025 as they still acquire the last spot with a 23-45 overall record.
The White Sox last played in back-to-back postseasons in 2020 and 2021 but have since then failed to even qualify as a wild card in October baseball. Some things need to change, and they need to change quickly for the ailing Sox, as the fans are starting to get restless and disappointed at their poor performances with each passing game day in the MLB.