Pope Leo XIII Honored at White Sox Ballpark

The Chicago White Sox are set to reveal new graphics at their ballpark to honor Pope Leo XIII, correlating with cheers from the 2005 World Series. The unveiling is scheduled for Monday.

Recently, a Chicago native named Robert Prevast shared footage on social media showcasing the Pope’s presence during Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, which captured the excitement surrounding the event.

Interestingly, Prevost was featured on MLB on Fox during that game at Cellular Field on October 22, 2005, as cameras caught him cheering at a pivotal moment when the White Sox clinched a 5-3 victory over the Houston Astros.

The new artwork at the park commemorates this historical moment, marking the triumph of the White Sox in the first game of the series, which ultimately led to their championship win.

The team noted that the pillar designs celebrate the Pope’s connection to Chicago and highlight “the unifying power of baseball across the globe.”

Reports indicate that the Pope attended the game with his late family friend, Ed Schmidt, who was a season ticket holder. The two connected through their work with Catholic high schools in South Chicago. Interestingly, Schmidt’s son, Nick, still holds the seat that belonged to the Pope for the World Series.

In recent times, the White Sox and their fans have been navigating their relationship with the new Pope. Following his election, the team reportedly sent jerseys and hats to the Vatican as a gesture of connection.

Additionally, a group of dedicated White Sox fans donned attire honoring the Pope, although they faced a challenging game, losing 13-3 to the Crosstown Cubs at Wrigley Field the following Friday.