A Higher Power at Home Plate: Pope Leo XIV Brings His Message to the White Sox
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Chicago’s South Side is no stranger to praying for miracles. But on Saturday, Sox fans will get one straight from the Vatican.
Well, virtually, anyway.
Pope Leo XIV — born Robert Francis Prevost, a lifelong White Sox devotee and newly elected head of the Catholic Church — will appear on the scoreboard at Guaranteed Rate Field to deliver a message of hope to young people worldwide. For Chicago, it’s something more: the return of a hometown son, and a blessing for a ballclub desperate for revival after one of the worst seasons in modern baseball history.
“Coming in second is not the objective, and it’s not acceptable,” Leo has said of his beloved Celtics. Now Sox fans hope he’ll apply the same philosophy to his team in black pinstripes.
A Pope in Pinstripes
Earlier this week, the pontiff turned heads in St. Peter’s Square when he donned a White Sox cap, a playful nod to Saturday’s celebration. For locals, it was confirmation that no matter how far he’s risen, Leo has never left his South Side roots behind.
The connection runs deep. He was in the stands for Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, when the Sox ended an 88-year drought and swept Houston to claim the title. That night is immortalized with a mural at the stadium marking the very spot where he stood.
Faith, Baseball, and a City’s Hope
The celebration will feature Leo’s recorded message, reflections from friends and clergy, and a Mass led by Cardinal Blase Cupich. Chicago Bulls announcer Chuck Swirsky will emcee the day, while “prayer booths” and cardboard cutouts of the Pope add a touch of fan-friendly fun.
For organizer Brian Romer Niemiec, the moment is about more than sport. “People often see the pope as a mythical figure, irrelevant to their lives. But when he steps into a baseball park — his baseball park — he becomes one of us. That can change how people think about faith, purpose, and belonging.”
Tickets were originally priced at $5 through Ticketmaster, though resale soared as high as $1,200. Tens of thousands are expected to pack the 40,000-seat stadium.
A City Watching, A World Listening
Chicagoans have already embraced the occasion. At Go Tavern in Logan Square, David Perez smiled at the thought of divine intervention: “If anybody could make it happen, this is the guy.” Others see the pope’s presence as a counterpoint to the louder figures shaping America’s image on the global stage. “Right now the biggest figure is Trump,” said Daniel Fletcher, a 35-year-old Sox fan. “Leo is the opposite — a compassionate voice. That’s what people need to hear.”
For Fletcher, like many, it’s surreal: “These shared experiences — Sox games, the ups and downs — and now he’s the mouthpiece of God. It’s crazy.”
The Invitation Stands
For now, Leo’s presence will be virtual. But Sox executives already have bigger dreams. “He has an open invite to throw out a first pitch,” said executive Brooks Boyer. “Heck, maybe we’ll let him get an at-bat.”
Whether or not that day comes, one thing is clear: on the South Side, the faithful and the faithful fans are converging. And for a team in need of a miracle, who better to call on than a Chicago pope with a Sox cap in his closet?
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