Conversations about the sports affiliations of newly elected Pope Leo XIV began swirling immediately after the Vatican Sistine Chapel emitted its signature white smoke. Having been chosen on Thursday, Robert Prevost made history as the first American to ascend to the papacy within the Catholic Church. Originally hailing from Chicago, the U.S.-born pope, now styled Leo XIV, is also an alumnus of Villanova University near Philadelphia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1977.
Upon his election, the sports world, particularly aficionados of Chicago’s baseball teams, was quick to react. Initial reports had pegged the new pope as a fan of the Chicago Cubs. In response, the Cubs extended their congratulations through a post that featured an image of the famous Wrigley Field marquee proclaiming, “HEY, CHICAGO. HE’S A CUBS FAN!”
However, this was soon corrected by John Prevost, the pope’s brother, during an interview with WGN-TV. According to John, the pope is actually a devout supporter of the Chicago White Sox. “He was never ever a Cubs fan, so I don’t know where that came from. He was always a Sox fan,” he clarified, suggesting that the mix-up could be attributed to their mother’s side of the family, who were North Siders and fervent Cubs fans.
The White Sox took the opportunity to highlight this clarification by sharing a segment from the brother’s interview on social media, accompanied by an image of Rate Field’s videoboard declaring, “HEY CHICAGO, HE’S A SOX FAN!” The caption praised the new pontiff, saying, “Well, would you look at that… Congratulations to Chicago’s own Pope Leo XIV.”
In an official statement, the White Sox expressed their delight, noting, “Family always knows best, and it sounds like Pope Leo XIV’s lifelong fandom falls a little closer to 35th and Shields.” Further, they revealed plans to send a personalized White Sox jersey and hat to the pope in Rome, humorously inviting him to attend a game in pinstripes should he be so inclined.
This revelation sparked musings among White Sox enthusiasts, who speculated on the possibility of the pope influencing the team’s ownership decisions, specifically concerning owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s management.
The Chicago Bears’ fan base also lent its voice to the discourse, with some quipping on social media that Chicago succeeded in appointing a pope before the Bears managed to find a top-tier quarterback. Others joked about the team now having a “direct line to God” or humorously referring to a famous play, suggesting they won’t be on the losing end of “Hail Mary” plays henceforward.
Even Bears quarterback Caleb Williams chimed in, jubilantly posting “Daaaaaa Pope” on his account.
Concurrently, the timing of Pope Leo XIV’s election intersects with a promising moment for basketball enthusiasts, as several former Villanova players are key figures in the New York Knicks’ current NBA playoff campaign. This spurred an imaginative display on social media, with fans sharing an edited image of Pope Leo XIV alongside these former players.
The New York Knicks have been making headlines by overturning significant deficits to emerge victorious in their initial two matchups against the reigning Boston Celtics champions in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Supporters are now hopeful that the synergy of Villanova’s influence along with the new pope’s support will guide the team to secure its first NBA championship since 1973.