Pope Leo loves sports: These are the teams he roots for

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When the world welcomed its inaugural American pope, Chicagoans eagerly debated: Cubs or Sox?

Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, grew up in a divided household. Born in Bronzeville and reared in the south suburbs, his mother was a die-hard Cubs fan from Chicago’s North Side. His father is a St. Louis Cardinals fan. But John’s brother said the new pope chose not to pick the Cubs.

“Whoever said Cubs on the radio got it wrong,” John informed WGN. “It is Sox. He was never a Cubs fan. Pope Leo XIV has two brothers, Louis and John. Louis, a military veteran, lives in Florida, while John — who just settled the debate about the Pope’s baseball loyalties — previously served as a Catholic school principal.

So, while the pontiff now leads 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, it is apparent that his commitment to the diamond has always been unequivocal. He has a profound affinity for the South Side.

The news of Pope Leo’s favorite club sparked shockwaves over social media, especially as the Chicago Cubs soon wanted to claim the freshly elected pope as one of their own.
Within hours after his historic appointment, the organization issued a tribute online, invoking commentator Harry Caray’s famous call: “The good Lord wants the Cubs to win!”

“Family always knows best”

However, the South Side emerged victorious. The White Sox promptly celebrated their divine connection by sending a team jersey and hat directly to the Vatican.

“Family always knows best,” the squad informed NBC Chicago. “And it seems like Pope Leo XIV’s lifelong devotion is a little closer to 35th and Shields. Some things are greater than baseball, but in this case, we’re thrilled to have a White Sox fan in the Vatican.”

Loyalty in sports

According to the Sun-Times, Pope Leo grew up in the Dolton suburb and routinely attended mass at St. Mary of the Assumption, which is located on the city’s far southeast side. At a press conference on Thursday, Sister Barbara Reid, president of the Catholic Theological Union where Prevost once studied, praised his character: “He’s an extraordinary person with a very keen intellect, a heart as big as the whole world, especially for the people who are most on the margins.”

But, despite spending much of his adult life serving the Church overseas, notably in Peru, Pope Leo has never lost touch with his Chicago origins—or his sports fandom.

The Chicago White Sox are the Pope’s preferred soccer team.
Pope Leo, a 1977 Villanova University graduate, has always had a strong interest in sports. Before ascending to the papacy, Robert Prevost demonstrated his South Side allegiance by visiting the 2005 World Series at Guaranteed Rate Field to root for the Chicago White Sox.

Beyond baseball, Prevost enjoys tennis and considers himself a recreational player.

During a 2023 interview, he even acknowledged being an amateur tennis player. “Since leaving Peru, I have had few occasions to practice, so I am looking forward to getting back on the court,” added the man. “Not that this new job has left me much free time for it so far.”

According to rumors, Pope Leo has long supported Alianza Lima, a prominent Peruvian soccer team.

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