As the world celebrated the historic rise of the first American pope, Chicago had just one pressing question on its mind: Cubs or Sox?
Pope Leo XIV — born Robert Francis Prevost — grew up in a classic Windy City baseball battleground. Raised in the south suburbs after being born in Bronzeville, he came from a split household: his mother, a die-hard Cubs fan from the North Side; his father, unwavering in his allegiance to the St. Louis Cardinals.
But when it came to baseball, young Robert made up his own mind early — and it wasn’t in favor of the Cubbies.
“Whoever said Cubs on the radio got it wrong,” his brother John Prevost told WGN. “It’s Sox. He was never, ever a Cubs fan.”
The newly elected Pope has two brothers, Louis and John. Louis, a military veteran, resides in Florida, while John — a former Catholic school principal — just put the papal baseball debate to rest once and for all.
While Pope Leo XIV now shepherds 1.4 billion Catholics across the globe, one thing remains certain back home in Chicago — his loyalty on the baseball diamond has never wavered.
He’s a South Sider through and through.
The revelation about the pope’s allegiance to the White Sox sent ripples across social media, especially after the Chicago Cubs tried to lay early claim to the newly elected pontiff. Just hours after his historic appointment, the Cubs posted a tribute invoking the iconic words of broadcaster Harry Caray: “The good Lord wants the Cubs to win!”
But the South Side was having none of it.
The White Sox responded with divine swiftness, sending a team jersey and cap straight to the Vatican. Their message? Crystal clear.
“Family always knows best,” the team told NBC Chicago. “And it sounds like Pope Leo XIV’s lifelong fandom falls a little closer to 35th and Shields. Some things are bigger than baseball, but in this case, we’re glad to have a White Sox fan represented at the Vatican.”
A South Side Upbringing
Born in Bronzeville and raised in the suburb of Dolton, Pope Leo — then Robert Francis Prevost — grew up steeped in South Side culture. He attended Mass at St. Mary of the Assumption and formed the values that would one day shape his global ministry. Despite spending much of his adult life abroad, especially serving in Peru, he never lost touch with his Chicago roots — or his sports allegiances.
A Heart for the Margins, and the Sox
At a Thursday press conference, Sister Barbara Reid, president of the Catholic Theological Union where Prevost studied, praised the new pontiff: “He’s an extraordinary person with a very keen intellect, a heart as big as the whole world, especially for the people who most are on the margins.”
And while his compassion may span the globe, his baseball heart remains planted firmly at Guaranteed Rate Field.
In fact, long before he donned papal white, Prevost was in the stands for the 2005 World Series, cheering on his beloved Sox during their championship run.
Beyond Baseball
A 1977 graduate of Villanova University, Pope Leo has long embraced athletics. In a 2023 interview, he called himself a casual tennis player, admitting, “Since leaving Peru I have had few occasions to practice, so I am looking forward to getting back on the court — not that this new job has left me much free time.”
And his sports interests don’t end with American pastimes. Prevost is also a longtime fan of Alianza Lima, one of Peru’s most storied soccer clubs — a connection that highlights his deep bond with the country where he spent decades in ministry.
A Pope with a Hometown Soul
He may now wear the Ring of the Fisherman, but deep down, Pope Leo XIV still wears his Sox cap with pride. In the halls of the Vatican, a quiet nod to 35th and Shields might just echo through the Sistine Chapel.
