It’s not baseball season without Pope Leo making some noise, thanks to his Chicago White Sox fandom.
Like clockwork, as spring returns, the Pope was greeted by a fellow Chicago native during a recent outing in Rome.
“God bless the White Sox,” shouted John Kilkus as the popemobile drove by.
Pope Leo responded with a thumbs up and a smile.
There has never been a pope as synonymous with baseball as Pope Leo XIV, though that may be because there has never been an American pope until now.
Throughout 2025, he captured attention across the baseball world, signing balls, receiving uniforms and bats as gifts, appearing on baseball cards and bobbleheads, and bringing a unique sense of joy to the sport unlike any religious leader before him.
We’re here for all of it.
Stay with WorldBaseball.com as we continue to cover the intersection of Pope Leo and baseball, with new, fun, and engaging storylines emerging throughout the season.
Chris R. Vaccaro is a media executive, author, and professor from Long Island and serves as senior editorial advisor for World Baseball Network.
