Pope Leo XIV brought his White Sox fandom to the Vatican on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
While holding a general audience in St. Peter\u2019s Square, the Chicago-bred pontiff was photographed wearing a black White Sox cap as he greeted onlookers, including a bride and groom who appeared to be fellow fans of the AL Central club.<\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV\u2019s sports allegiances were thrust into the spotlight in May<\/a> when he made history after being elected the first American pope. He succeeded Pope Francis, who died in April at the age of 88<\/a> after a lengthy battle with double pneumonia.<\/p>\n Pope Leo XIV was seen wearing a Chicago White Sox hat at the Vatican on June 11, 2025. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n The American-born pope greeted newlyweds in his White Sox hat. REUTERS<\/p>\n The pope\u2019s brother, John Prevost, quickly set the record straight over which Chicago baseball team his sibling preferred amid Cubs chatter.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was never ever a Cubs fan, so I don\u2019t know where that came from,\u201d Prevost told local Chicago station WGN TV. \u201cHe was always a Sox fan. Our mother was a Cubs fan. I don\u2019t know, maybe that clued in there and our dad was a Cardinals fan, so I don\u2019t know where all that came from.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAnd all the aunts, our mom\u2019s family was from the north side, so that\u2019s why they were Cubs fans.\u201d<\/p>\n Pope Leo XIV waved to onlookers in St. Peter\u2019s Square on June 11, 2025. Getty Images<\/p>\n The pope\u2019s sports allegiances were thrust into the spotlight after he was elected. REUTERS<\/p>\n Born Robert Francis Prevost, the Windy City native has a publicized history of supporting the White Sox, as resurfaced video showed him wearing team gear<\/a> during Game 1 of the 2005 World Series against the Astros.<\/p>\n Chicago swept Houston in four games.<\/p>\n Pope Leo XIV was elected the first American pope in May 2025. REUTERS<\/p>\n The White Sox commemorated Pope Leo XIV with a graphic at Rate Field in May 2025. AP<\/p>\n Last month, the White Sox installed a Pope Leo XIV graphic at Rate Field in honor of their most famous fan.<\/p>\n Beyond the White Sox, who lost a record 121 games last season<\/a>, Pope Leo XIV is also a Villanova Wildcat, having graduated from the university in 1977.<\/p>\n