Old Robert Prevost Photo Confirms Pope Leo Xiv's White Sox Fandom

When white smoke billowed from the chimneys of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, the habemus papam announcement revealed Robert Francis Prevost would become Pope Leo XIV and was elected the first-ever American pope.

News that he was a Chicago native and Villanova University graduate thrilled Americans, many of whom immediately wondered his Chicago sports fandom.

Prevost's brother John told NBC Chicago that the new pope was a White Sox fan, despite the Cubs jokingly announcing the pope to be a Northside allegiant.

Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV! pic.twitter.com/s02yDDegQd

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 8, 2025

"Whoever said Cubs on the radio got it wrong," John said. "He was never, ever a Cubs fan."

John clarified that their mother was a Cubs fan, having been raised on the North Side of Chicago, but their father was a rival St. Louis Cardinals fan.

The discourse around Pope Leo's fandom reached even greater heights when a photo obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times showed that the new pope's fandom goes back over two decades.

Pope Leo XIV at a 2005 White Sox World Series game at U.S. Cellular Field, now Rate Field.pic.twitter.com/siUK4C4OwV

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) May 9, 2025

In the photo, Prevost (top left) was seen cheering on the White Sox in the  2005 World Series, where they would sweep the Houston Astros for their first title in 88 years.

Of course, Pope Leo's Chicago roots have inspired many promotions, including a new Portillo's Italian Beef sandwich inspired by the pope.

Fans on social media had a field day with the new announcement. One X user wrote: "I think it's rather fitting and beautiful that Pope Leo XIV is confirmed as a White Sox fan. A true advocate for the downtrodden."

Another X user chimed in: "Pope Leo XIV grew up a White Sox fan, so basically has already endured martyrdom a few times."

For now, the city of Chicago will continue to rally around the new Pope, who becomes the first American, and certainly the first Chicagoan, to lead the 1.4 billion Roman Catholics around the world.

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