As the world celebrated the election of the first American pope, a lighthearted but pressing question captured the attention of Chicagoans: Is he a Cubs or White Sox fan?
Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, was born in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood and grew up in the southern suburbs. His childhood home was one of divided baseball loyalties — his mother, a passionate Cubs supporter from the city’s North Side, and his father, a devoted fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.
However, the pontiff didn’t follow in either parent’s footsteps when it came to baseball. According to his brother, John Prevost, Pope Leo made his own decision at an early age, and he chose the White Sox.
“Whoever said Cubs on the radio got it wrong,” John told WGN. “It’s Sox. He was never, ever a Cubs fan.”
Pope Leo XIV has two brothers, John and Louis. Louis, a military veteran, currently lives in Florida. John, who recently cleared up the speculation surrounding the Pope’s baseball preference, is a former Catholic school principal.
Although he now serves as the spiritual leader of over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, Pope Leo’s loyalty on the baseball field has never been in question — he’s proudly a South Side supporter.
But fans were quick to point out the mix-up, and thanks to his brother’s clarification, the truth about the Pope’s White Sox fandom couldn’t be clearer.
“Family always knows best”
However, it was the South Side that got the final word.
The White Sox quickly and proudly acknowledged their connection to the new pope, sending a team jersey and cap straight to the Vatican.
“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.”
Sports loyalties
Pope Leo spent his formative years in the suburb of Dolton and was a regular attendee at Mass at St. Mary of the Assumption, situated on Chicago’s Far Southeast Side, according to the Sun-Times.
During a Thursday press conference, Sister Barbara Reid — president of the Catholic Theological Union, where Prevost once studied — spoke highly of him, saying: “He’s an exceptional individual with a sharp mind and a heart expansive enough to embrace the entire world, especially those living on the margins.”
Though much of his adult life has been devoted to serving the Church overseas, particularly in Peru, Pope Leo has always remained connected to his Chicago roots — and his loyalty to South Side sports has never wavered.
Pope’s favorite soccer team
A graduate of Villanova University in 1977, Pope Leo has maintained a lifelong love for sports. Long before becoming pope, Robert Prevost proudly demonstrated his South Side allegiance by attending the 2005 World Series at Guaranteed Rate Field to support the Chicago White Sox.
His athletic interests extend beyond baseball — Prevost also enjoys tennis and considers himself a casual player.
In a 2023 interview, he described himself as an amateur tennis fan, saying, “Since leaving Peru, I haven’t had many chances to play, so I’m hoping to return to the court soon — though this new role hasn’t exactly given me much free time.”
In addition, Pope Leo has been a devoted follower of Alianza Lima, a well-known soccer team in Peru, according to various reports.
