On May 8, 2025, the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church, sparked a unique wave of enthusiasm in Chicago, particularly within the ranks of the struggling Chicago White Sox baseball team. The new pope, formerly Robert Prevost, hails from a suburb south of Chicago and counts himself a White Sox fan, a revelation that presented the team with an unexpected opportunity amid difficult seasons.

The White Sox entered the 2020s battling poor performance and attendance. In 2024, the team set a modern Major League Baseball record for losses with 121 and remained near the bottom of the American League Central the following year. Their average home crowd ranks among the league’s lowest, making marketing efforts a continual challenge. Mike Downey, senior director of promotions and marketing, saw Pope Leo’s fandom as a potential boost for team morale and public interest.

Although initial reports suggested the pope favored the city's North Side rivals, the Chicago Cubs, his brother clarified that Pope Leo was indeed a White Sox fan. The Cubs had quickly capitalized on the presumed connection with a marquee announcement and social media posts, prompting the White Sox to respond swiftly with their own messages, including a sign on the scoreboard declaring, “Hey Chicago, He’s a Sox Fan!” The team saw a 33 percent spike in sales of their primary baseball cap in the week following the pope’s election.

The White Sox’s promotional team pursued a range of initiatives centered around the papal connection. These included a digital mural at the ballpark featuring an iconic image of Pope Leo attending a 2005 World Series game and a plaque commemorating his seat. They also collaborated with the Archdiocese of Chicago to host a large public Mass at Rate Field, which sold approximately 35,000 tickets at $5 each, far exceeding the team’s average game attendance.

One ambitious idea was to create a bobblehead figure of Pope Leo wearing White Sox attire. While prototypes were produced, the Vatican declined to grant approval, reportedly viewing such memorabilia as potentially disrespectful. The Archdiocese of Chicago confirmed it does not vet individual team promotions. Instead, the team pivoted to a giveaway of pope-themed hats, which proved immensely popular and were distributed to tens of thousands of fans during a near sellout game against the Cincinnati Reds.

The pope’s fandom has also become a lighthearted motif among players and fans alike. During a June game, catcher Drew Romo, himself Catholic, jokingly requested a prayer from the pontiff for a home run, which was promptly followed by a batter’s success. Former White Sox player A.J. Pierzynski visited Pope Leo in late June and presented him with the game ball from the 2005 World Series’s final out, a keepsake seemingly treasured by the pontiff.

While luck on the field remains uncertain—opposing teams like the Oakland Athletics saw no immediate turnaround after visits to the pope’s mural—the White Sox have experienced a notable surge in attendance. On average, the team drew over 6,000 more fans per game than the previous season, marking one of the largest increases in Major League Baseball.

The pope’s American roots and his open support of a hometown baseball team have created a sense of connection between Chicagoans and the Vatican rarely seen before. Brian Burch, U.S. ambassador to the Holy See and a Cubs fan, acknowledged that the pontiff’s allegiances serve as “a reminder of his American roots” and bring a relatable dimension to the papacy for many in the United States.

For now, the White Sox continue to capitalize on their unique bond with Pope Leo XIV, awaiting a possible green light from the Vatican for further collaborations. Meanwhile, the papal bobblehead prototypes remain on Downey’s desk, symbolizing both the potential and challenges of blending sport and spirituality in a city eagerly embracing its new pope.