CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox recently celebrated an unexpected boost to their morale amidst a challenging time, as news broke that Pope Leo XIV, newly elected just this past Thursday, is a fan of the team. Robert Prevost, the Chicago-born missionary who has now ascended to become the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church, holds a special place in his heart for the White Sox, according to his brother John. This revelation has invigorated both the team and its fans.
Before the White Sox took to the field against Miami on Friday night, manager Will Venable expressed his pleasure over the news, noting how significant this moment is for Chicago. “It’s awesome,” Venable stated, acknowledging the pride shared by the city. Initial reports had confounded some, suggesting that the new pope might be a supporter of the Cubs. Wrigley Field’s marquee even flashed a message proclaiming, “HEY, CHICAGO. HE’S A CUBS FAN!” as the Cubs sought to claim this high-profile fan.
However, John Prevost clarified the matter in a conversation with WGN-TV, affirming that his brother has always sided with the White Sox. Responding to this correction, the White Sox highlighted John’s interview on social media along with an image from the Rate Field videoboard that proudly announced, “HEY CHICAGO, HE’S A SOX FAN!” This declaration remained visible as the White Sox prepared for their game on Friday.
Venable admitted to understanding the Cubs’ initial claim, laughingly noting, “I get it. I think we all want the pope on our side, so I certainly understand. But I’m glad he chose the right team.” Following the confirmation of Pope Leo XIV’s allegiance, the White Sox promptly sent a jersey and a hat to the Vatican as tokens of appreciation. Additionally, they prepared a dedicated scoreboard graphic which was displayed before the game’s first pitch that evening.
For the White Sox, currently at the bottom of the AL Central standings and coming off a dismal 41-121 record last season — the worst in MLB history post-1900 — this news provided a welcome reason to rejoice. Coach Venable, grinning from ear to ear, commented, “We’ll take it. It’s great to have him on our side, for sure.”