“Viva il Papa!” —Long live the Pope, that’s what echoed in the Vatican City as Robert Francis Prevost was named as the first-ever American to take on the role of Pope. He officially chose the name Leo XIV on 8th April, 2025, and became the 267th pontiff. It was historic to witness the citizens gathering around the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The chants were in unison, and the vibe was simply off the charts. Now, two days later, something is brewing around his name in the MLB.
Little did we expect that Pope’s first day at the Vatican would coincide with an amusing MLB twist. If you’ve been following Pope Leo XIV’s journey, you’d know how deep his connection is with Chicago and baseball. Francis Prevost was born and brought up in Chicago and has been a longtime fan of the Chicago White Sox. Now, what are the odds of the Chicago Sox winning on the same day as Pope’s new role? Well, yes, it happened.
Coincidence? Maybe. But the White Sox handed over a painful 6-2 defeat to the Miami Marlins on Friday – Pope Leo XIV’s first full day at the Vatican. The MLB insider Bob Nightengale didn’t miss this opportunity to sum this situation up perfectly on X.
He stated, “It was only fitting that on Pope Leo XIV’s first full day in the Vatican, his favorite baseball team, the Chicago White Sox, win, and so do the Cardinals.” Oh, yes, not just the White Sox; even the St. Louis Cardinals won on the same day against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.
It was only fitting that on Pope Leo XIV’s first full day in the Vatican, his favorite baseball team, the Chicago White Sox, win, and so do the Cardinals.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 10, 2025
Such kind of alignment of events is rare to witness but Bob Nightengale made the most of it. It has brought all the attention from the south side. In fact, Pope Leo also played local Little League as a kid. That’s how deep his connection is with this league.
Presently, the White Sox hold the record of 10-28, which is certainly bad. It’s safe to say that the team is struggling really badly. They did give us a peek at their slump when they were swept off in a 4-game series by the Kansas City Royals. Well, now that they won this time against the Marlins, they know who to recall – Pope Leo XIV.
Hot topic in MLB: Pope Leo XIV’s sporty side is the talk of the town
Now, you all are no strangers to Pope Leo’s deep roots with MLB and particularly with the White Sox. However, throughout his life as Francis Prevost, he had connections with other sports as well. The Chicago native has a passion for tennis as well. Thanks to his time as a missionary in Peru, he developed a love for tennis during those years.
Hear it from the man himself. Back in time, Pope Leo was interviewed about his love for tennis and he shared that he considers himself a die-hard tennis fan. “Since leaving Peru, I haven’t had many chances to play, so I’m really looking forward to getting back on the court.” This sport served him physically, and he found it aligned with him spiritually as well. He subtly called himself an “amateur player” as he described his style of play.
Well, when it comes to baseball, there is a lighthearted debate surrounding the MLB currently, as the Chicago White Sox won on the same day as his first full day as Pope Leo. As he was raised in Dolton, his childhood years had a significant time when he indulged in the little league.
On the south side, the nation put the word out there that “He’s a Cubs’ fan.” However, his brother made it pretty clear to the world that he has always been a White Sox fan. Well, Pope has always had a liking for MLB as a whole. And that’s what matters more than which team he holds dear to him.
The post Pope Leo XIV’s First Day at Vatican Coincides With Surprising MLB Twist Sparking Hilarious Reaction From Insider appeared first on EssentiallySports.