The Chicago White Sox honored their first American pope during a game against the Miami Marlins on Friday, celebrating “Pope Leo XIV of the South Side.”
Since the announcement of the new pope’s Chicago roots, fans have been debating whether he’s a Cubs or White Sox supporter. Pope Leo’s brother, John Plainst, revealed in an interview that, without a doubt, the pope has always favored the Sox.
Right after the national anthem, a large scoreboard tribute displayed an image of Pope Leo, who was chosen by Catholic Cardinals worldwide, with the message: “The White Sox proudly celebrates Pope Leo XIV of the South Side, named the 268th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.”
In the lead-up to the announcement, social media saw an online back-and-forth between Cubs and White Sox fans, all speculating about the pope’s allegiance to MLB teams.
Following the news, Pope Leo-themed memes flooded social media, sparking discussions over whether the pope might be a fan of the Chicago Bears or if he would prefer deep-dish pizza from Chicago, considering he currently resides in Italy.
According to reports, “fans were seen wearing Pope Leo XIV hats and selling baseball shirts outside the tailgate lot.” Various Sox fans were interviewed about their reactions to the pope being from Chicago and a Sox supporter.
“When I heard the announcement, I saw people in tears. It’s just overwhelming to have a pope from Chicago,” said Alejandra Martinez, a long-time White Sox fan. “My dad would be so thrilled right now.”
“I thought it was pretty cool,” Melissa LeBlanc commented. “It feels great to have someone we can connect with right from our own area.”
Fans even showed up to the game dressed in pope-themed outfits, which drew attention and made for a fun atmosphere. The White Sox will continue their series against the Marlins over the weekend in Chicago.
