The first American pope, Pope Leo XIV, was a South Side White Sox supporter.
The Catholic Church elected its first-ever American pope, Robert Prevost, a Chicago-born missionary who has devoted a significant portion of his life to working in Peru in a moment that combined history, tragedy, and comedy. As the 267th pope, the 69-year-old Augustinian priest chose the name Leo XIV, which conjures up images of power, change, and perhaps even a bit old-fashioned fire.
@ClaudiasWorkshop 
The internet, however, had a different kind of query as the globe struggles with conflict, violence, and the effects of climate change: Which Chicago baseball team does the new pope support?
From the South Side to St. Peter's Prevost was born and reared in Chicago, a city renowned for its ardent sports fans and spiritual zeal. His devotion to the South Side never wavered, even though he studied theology in Rome and served as a missionary in Peru for decades.
Wrigleyville would have been thrilled by the early rumors that Pope Leo XIV may be a Cubs fans.
However, in an interview with Chicago's WGN-TV, his brother John Prevost promptly clarified the situation: "No, he is a White Sox guy."
The South Side lets out a collective sigh of relief, and Cubs Nation lets out a few friendly moans.
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His papal voyage took a detour across the East Coast, but it began in Chicago. In 1977, Prevost graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Villanova University, a school south of Philadelphia that is well-known for its prowess in basketball and its Augustinian connections. A Chicago-born White Sox fan who was influenced by Philly grit and Peruvian humility is one of the details that lends more dimension to this already intriguing tapestry.
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Jokes, memes, and tributes were all over social media, which is always the town square. He was praised by some as "South Side Jesus." Others made the joke that the pope is more than capable of enduring the rigors of the papacy if he can still adore the White Sox despite years of mediocrity.
Some theologians on Twitter even made humorous predictions about his first official actions, such as canonizing Frank Thomas, a papal bull against the designated hitter rule, or a declaration that deep-dish pizza is the holiest food.
Not Just a Meme
However, there is a man of extraordinary depth beneath the memes. Prevost worked with indigenous communities in the Andes and lived among the impoverished in Peru before Rome called. He speaks Spanish well, has a background in pastoral care, and is well-known for his tactful diplomacy. His appointment occurs during a turbulent period in the history of the church, a worldwide organization dealing with political division, scandal, and decline.
His election suggests a possible change in tone as well as location. Leo XIV seems more like the type of priest who would remember your name, inquire about your mother, and then return to healing the world's wounds than a famous bishop.
A Paradoxical Pontiff
Pope Leo XIV is a paradox in the finest sense of the word: humble but historic, American but genuinely global, spiritual, and yes, a sports fan with unwavering devotion. How he handles the internal turmoil at the Vatican and the escalating challenges in the world will probably define his pontificate. But for the time being, one thing is evident:
In addition to gaining a new admirer in the Vatican, the White Sox may be receiving a little divine help on their way to Guaranteed Rate Field.
