The election of the first American pope in history, Robert Prevost, a Chicago native, has sparked the curiosity not only of millions of faithful around the world, but also of U.S. sports fans. Particularly those from the Windy City have been wondering since yesterday afternoon whether the new pontiff, who chose the name Leo XIV, is a Chicago Cubs or White Sox fan.
The local media have also begun to get passionate about the question, reporting conflicting reports in recent hours. Initially, the Cubs claimed that the Pope was one of their supporters, throwing the words “Hey Chicago, he’s a Cubs fan” on the main scoreboard at Wrigley Field.
However, some local newspapers have pointed out that Prevost is originally from Dolton, a neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, an area historically linked to the city’s “other” baseball team, the White Sox. The pontiff’s own brother, John Prevost, said during an interview that Robert has always been a White Sox supporter, despite the fact that their parents cheered for the Cubs and, ironically, the Cardinals.
“Family always knows best, and it sounds like Pope Leo XIV’s lifelong fandom falls a little closer to 35th and Shields”, the White Sox franchise announced on Thursday evening, posting on its social channels WGN News’ interview with the Pope’s brother. “Some things are bigger than baseball, and in this case, we’re glad to have a White Sox fan represented at the Vatican. A pinstripes White Sox jersey with his name on it and a hat are already on the way to Rome, and of course, the Pontiff is always welcome at his ballpark.”
In response to the Cubs’ rivals, the team displayed the words “Hey Chicago, he’s a Sox fan” on their light board outside Rate Field. Of course, American fans were not the only ones asking questions about Leo XIV’s sports “faith.”
In Europe many wondered if the new pontiff was as passionate about soccer as his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, who was a huge fan of San Lorenzo, a club in Buenos Aires.
Father Giuseppe Pagano, from the Augustinian convent of Santo Spirito in Florence, a longtime friend of Prevost, spoke on the issue, explaining, “He loved sports, he went to the stadium willingly, and in soccer he is a big Roma fan. I heard from him after the Roma-Fiorentina game. I jokingly told him, ‘Roma’s victory is Francesco’s first miracle after death.’”
