After weeks of speculation, Pope Leo XIV has ended the suspense surrounding his Major League Baseball allegiance—and it’s not the Chicago Cubs. During the general assembly in Rome on Wednesday, the first American-born pope, a native of Chicago, donned a black White Sox cap, making his South Side loyalties clear.
The symbolic gesture sparked mixed reactions back home. While it delighted long-suffering White Sox fans, who are enduring another tough season, it left Cubs fans with one more reason to grumble. The Cubs currently hold a dismal 23-44 record, sitting 20.5 games out of first place. Only the Colorado Rockies trail further behind in their division.
Though Pope Leo XIV won’t attend in person, the Archdiocese of Chicago plans to honor him with a celebration at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 14. Gates open at 12:30 PM CST, followed by a program at 2:30 PM and a mass at 4:00 PM. Organizers expect a large crowd of faithful and fans alike, eager to see the papacy embrace America’s pastime in such a public way.
The event marks a unique moment where sports, faith, and civic pride intersect. While papal statements rarely stir debate in the sports world, this one has energized White Sox supporters and sparked playful outrage among Cubs loyalists. Commentators have already dubbed it the “Hat Heard ‘Round Chicago.”
The White Sox, currently mired in a lackluster season, may welcome the spiritual boost. Whether divine intervention can help their standings remains to be seen, but for now, the South Side can claim a historic first: papal endorsement from the Vatican itself.
