Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

White Sox have new way of recognizing Pope Leo

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Aug 23, 2025 7:26 PM ET

The Chicago White Sox continue to lean into the fact that Pope Leo XIV is a lifelong fan of their team.

The White Sox have placed a marker on the seat Pope Leo sat in when he attended a 2005 World Series game at Chicago’s Rate Field. Photos of Leo XIV attending Game 1 of the series went viral after his ascension to the papacy.

The seat now bears an image of Leo XIV, a Chicago native, along with a plaque “mark(ing) the location where Pope Leo XIV cheered on the White Sox during Game 1 of the 2005 World Series” while still a cardinal.

Love ya, Chicago. pic.twitter.com/mLwjpNPBFL
— Thomas C. Bowen (@thomascbowen) August 22, 2025

Some may find this to be a bit much, but the White Sox are the only team that can claim any pope as a lifelong fan. It makes sense that they would want to make the most of it, especially since he was initially wrongly labeled as a Cubs fan.

Leo XIV has even continued to show off his White Sox fandom at the Vatican. The love affair certainly appears to be mutual.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: