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3w ago

Pope Leo XIV’s Baseball Allegiance Settled: White Sox Fan for Life

The first American pope, Chicago-born Robert Prevost, is confirmed by his brother to be a lifelong supporter of the White Sox, dispelling earlier claims of Cubs loyalty.

Apr 12, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Baseballs are seen in a basket during batting practice prior to a Chicago White Sox game at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images/File Photo
Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, declared on its marquee on Thursday, March 8, 2025, that newly elected Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native, is a fan of their Major League Baseball team. Inset: The newly elected Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV is seen for the first time from the Vatican balcony on May 8, 2025, in Vatican City, Vatican. White smoke was seen over the Vatican early this evening as the Conclave of Cardinals took just two days to elect Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo (Leone) XIV, as the 267th Supreme Pontiff after the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday.
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Overview

  • Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost on Chicago's South Side, is the first American to lead the Catholic Church.
  • Speculation about his baseball loyalty initially suggested he supported the Cubs, fueled by an ABC News report and a Cubs social media post.
  • His brother, John Prevost, clarified in a WGN TV interview that the pope has always been a devoted White Sox fan.
  • The Cubs organization had publicly embraced the idea of the pope being a fan, even displaying a congratulatory message at Wrigley Field, which was later proven incorrect.
  • The episode highlights Chicago's deep baseball rivalry, the role of local identity in shaping public narratives, and the rapid correction of misinformation in media.