As the world welcomed its first American pope, Chicagoans couldn’t help but ask: Cubs or Sox? Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, was raised in a house divided, his mother cheered for the Cubs, and his father supported the Cardinals. However, his brother John let the cat out of the bag: “It’s Sox. He was never a Cubs fan.” Now leading over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, Pope Leo’s allegiance to the South Side is crystal clear.
The Cubs tried to claim him with a tribute referencing Harry Caray’s famous “Holy Cow” call, but the White Sox quickly responded by sending a jersey and cap to the Vatican. “Family always knows best,” they said, embracing their papal connection.
Pope Leo’s ties to Chicago run deep. He spent his early years in Dolton, where he attended mass at St. Mary of the Assumption. Sister Barbara Reid, who worked with him at the Catholic Theological Union, described him as “extraordinary” with “a heart as big as the world.” While Pope Leo’s mission took him abroad, particularly in Peru, he never lost sight of his Chicago roots. He even attended the 2005 World Series to support the White Sox and remains a fan of tennis and the Alianza Lima soccer team in Peru.
