So, is he a Cubs or White Sox fan?
As the world welcomed the first pope from the United States in Robert Prevost on Thursday, Americans have been eagerly looking to find out about the life of one of their own. Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago, so that naturally begs the question what sports team the new pontiff roots for. It makes sense for him to cheer on his hometown teams, but it’s certainly different in baseball as the city boasts both the Cubs and White Sox.
The pope hails from the South Side of the city − White Sox territory − but the Cubs are a major brand that easily could have swooped him up. There have been some reports of which side Prevost leans, but a family member has given sports fans the answer they’ve been seeking.
Is Pope Leo XIV a Cubs or White Sox fan?
According to his brother, Pope Leo XIV is loyal to the South Side. John Prevost revealed his brother is a White Sox fan in an interview with WGN TV.
“He was never, ever a Cubs fan. So I don’t know where that came from. He was always a Sox fan,” John Prevost said.
The pope’s sibling added they grew up in a split household, but not with the White Sox. His mother was a Cubs fan and his father was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Chicago Sun-Times obtained a photo from a family friend of Pope Leo at a World Series game in 2005, a season that saw the club win its first championship since 1917.
White Sox troll Cubs over Pope Leo XIV
The early belief was the pope was a Cubs fan based off a report from ABC News not long after the announcement was made.
However, the initial report was rebuffed, and that makes it kind of awkward for the Cubs. The team seemed to buy in on the belief, and on the iconic Wrigley Field sign, made it known ‘he’s a Cubs fan’ in a congratulatory message.
Yikes. If it’s any consolation for Cubs fans, at least the pope’s favorite team is coming off a historically awful 2024 season and is in last place in the AL Central with the second-worst record in baseball this season.
Of course, the White Sox couldn’t pass up the opportunity to joke about their crosstown rival. The team put up a message on the video board at Rate Field just like the Cubs did, only noting the pope is a Sox fan.
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