A video surfaced on Saturday showing Pope Leo XIV during the 2005 World Series game between the White Sox and the Houston Astros, highlighting his loyalty to the Chicago baseball team.
The first American pope ever captured on camera, he was seen grimacing as the White Sox secured a 5-3 victory against the Astros, prompting discussions about his longstanding allegiance.
“He was never a Cubs fan, so I can’t figure out where that idea came from. He’s always supported the Sox. His mother liked the Cubs,” his brother, John, explained in a Thursday interview.
“I’m not sure, maybe they were around at the time. Our dad was a Cardinals fan, so honestly, it’s a bit of a mystery.”
The rivalry between the Chicago Cubs and the White Sox has persisted for over a century.
On Thursday, the Cubs took to social media to share an image that appeared on Wrigley Field’s scoreboard, stating, “Hey, Chicago! He’s a Cubs fan!”
The Sox responded by posting a similar image at Guaranteed Rate Field, celebrating the new pope and referring to him as “a very unique South Side.”
Pope Leo XIV, previously known as Robert Prevost, hails from Dalton, Illinois, just outside Chicago. He graduated from Vanderbilt University and has done missionary work in Peru.
Figures like President Trump, former President Barack Obama, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have all expressed their congratulations to Pope Leo XIV, wishing him success in his papacy.
