The Chicago White Sox are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their 2005 World Series title, and Pope Leo XIV gave Paul Konerko the perfect gift.
Konerko was one of many White Sox greats on hand to celebrate the team’s success over the weekend, and during a pregame ceremony Saturday he was given a special present by the White Sox and Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago.
During the ceremony, Cupich gave Konerko a No. 14 jersey that also bore Pope Leo’s name, and that was signed by the pontiff, who is one of the most famous White Sox fans in the world.
“It’s an honor to be on hand with perhaps the most dominant baseball team in history, winning 11 out of 12 playoff games. You know how I know that? Pope Leo told me,” Cupich said.
Konerko hit a grand slam in Game 2 of that series, with the White Sox sweeping the Houston Astros to win their first title in 88 seasons.
Pope Leo, the first-ever American-born pontiff, attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, a moment that has been immortalized in a mural at Rate Field that was unveiled shortly after he was elected to the papacy earlier this year.
Konerko slashed .283/.375/.534 for the White Sox that season, finishing sixth in MVP voting and making the All-Star Game roster for the American League.