Read that headline again.
If someone told you an American Pope had been chosen this year, and that his baseball fandom was making global headlines, you’d probably assume it was fiction. No one had that on their bingo card, right?
Yet here we are. The story is real, and it keeps getting better. Maybe it’s our American instinct for sensationalism, but these anecdotes about Pope Leo’s love for baseball are refreshingly lighthearted, free of politics, controversy, or theological tension. It’s easy to enjoy these harmless tales about the new Pontiff’s loyalty to the White Sox and his playful jabs at the Cubs.
The latest viral moment came when fans shouted “Go Cubs!” during an event at the Vatican. From his Popemobile, Pope Leo shot back, “Han perdido! They lost!” Two languages, one sentiment, as the Pope was referencing the Cubs’ recent NLDS loss to the Brewers.
Of course, Chicago’s South Siders didn’t fare much better. The White Sox ended the season with an American League-worst 60 losses. Pope Leo may have plenty to pray for, but his Sox surely make the list.
If you liked this story, read more about Pope Leo’s baseball fandom on World Baseball Network.
That’s our Pope ????️
(????: Vatican Media)
pic.twitter.com/w3fUWXw8DL— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) October 15, 2025
Photo Credit AP
