Even the leader of the Roman Catholic Church can’t resist a little hometown rivalry.
Pope Leo XIV, greeting crowds from his Popemobile in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, was met with a cheerful “Go Cubs” from a fan — and he couldn’t help but chuckle.
A lifelong South Side resident, the Pontiff has proudly worn his loyalty to the Chicago White Sox on his sleeve.
A South Side Fan Through and Through
Pope Leo responded to the Cubs cheer with a wry grin and a simple, “Han perdido! They lost!” referencing the North Side team’s recent playoff defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers.
While the Cubs did make the playoffs in 2025, their rivals on the South Side struggled, finishing the season with only 60 wins after a historically rough 41-121 campaign in 2024.
Despite decades of ups and downs for both franchises, White Sox fans are thrilled to have one of their own rise to global prominence.
“We need more of his intervention for the next years to come,” one fan wrote online.
Others celebrated the Pope’s awareness of MLB players, joking about his knowledge of Brice Turang, the Brewers’ second baseman.
A Storied Baseball History
Both Chicago teams have experienced long championship droughts.
The White Sox went from 1917 to 2005 without a title, while the Cubs’ 2016 World Series win was their first since 1908 — back when the Vatican was sending missions to the emerging United States.
Pope Leo’s personal fandom has been a rare point of pride for the South Siders.
In fact, fans commemorated the Pope’s support with a graphic installation at Rate Field.
In Section 140, Row 19, Seat 2, a marker honors Pope Leo’s attendance at Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, when the White Sox defeated the Houston Astros 5-3 to secure their first MLB crown in 88 years.
Footage shows a younger Robert Francis Prevost, the future Pope, in the crowd during his time as prior for the Order of Saint Augustine.
Clearing Up the Cubs Myth
After Pope Leo’s election, some reports mistakenly labeled him a Cubs fan.
His brother, John Prevost, quickly corrected the record: “He was never ever a Cubs fan. He was always a Sox fan.
Our mother was a Cubs fan… maybe that clued in there, and our dad was a Cardinals fan.”
Despite this, Pope Leo has embraced public displays of White Sox pride.
In June, he wore a White Sox hat over his zucchetto while blessing a newly married couple at the Vatican.
He has even led chants of “Let’s go White Sox!” in St. Peter’s Square, proving that his South Side roots remain strong even at the pinnacle of the Catholic Church.
Even the leader of the Roman Catholic Church can’t resist a little hometown rivalry.
Pope Leo XIV, greeting crowds from his Popemobile in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, was met with a cheerful “Go Cubs” from a fan — and he couldn’t help but chuckle.
A lifelong South Side resident, the Pontiff has proudly worn his loyalty to the Chicago White Sox on his sleeve.
A South Side Fan Through and Through
Pope Leo responded to the Cubs cheer with a wry grin and a simple, “Han perdido! They lost!” referencing the North Side team’s recent playoff defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers.
While the Cubs did make the playoffs in 2025, their rivals on the South Side struggled, finishing the season with only 60 wins after a historically rough 41-121 campaign in 2024.
Despite decades of ups and downs for both franchises, White Sox fans are thrilled to have one of their own rise to global prominence.
“We need more of his intervention for the next years to come,” one fan wrote online.
Others celebrated the Pope’s awareness of MLB players, joking about his knowledge of Brice Turang, the Brewers’ second baseman.
A Storied Baseball History
Both Chicago teams have experienced long championship droughts.
The White Sox went from 1917 to 2005 without a title, while the Cubs’ 2016 World Series win was their first since 1908 — back when the Vatican was sending missions to the emerging United States.
Pope Leo’s personal fandom has been a rare point of pride for the South Siders.
In fact, fans commemorated the Pope’s support with a graphic installation at Rate Field.
In Section 140, Row 19, Seat 2, a marker honors Pope Leo’s attendance at Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, when the White Sox defeated the Houston Astros 5-3 to secure their first MLB crown in 88 years.
Footage shows a younger Robert Francis Prevost, the future Pope, in the crowd during his time as prior for the Order of Saint Augustine.
Clearing Up the Cubs Myth
After Pope Leo’s election, some reports mistakenly labeled him a Cubs fan.
His brother, John Prevost, quickly corrected the record: “He was never ever a Cubs fan.
He was always a Sox fan. Our mother was a Cubs fan… maybe that clued in there, and our dad was a Cardinals fan.” Despite this, Pope Leo has embraced public displays of White Sox pride.
In June, he wore a White Sox hat over his zucchetto while blessing a newly married couple at the Vatican.
He has even led chants of “Let’s go White Sox!” in St. Peter’s Square, proving that his South Side roots remain strong even at the pinnacle of the Catholic Church.