White Sox fans dress up as the Pope during Cubs game

Funny stuff. I mean, White Sox supporters have to try and enjoy ballgames somehow. The results on the diamond definitely aren’t bringing them any smiles. Prevost, who was born in 1955, had the chance to enjoy the success of Chicago at times throughout his life. They made the World Series when he was just four years old before making it again in ’05.

At Game 1 in ’05, a five-year-old kid named Eddie Schmit attended the Fall Classic with his father and grandfather, who ended up becoming close friends with Prevost over the next 20 years. Schmidt spoke to Soxon35th.com about the relationship the two built:

“They became really good friends over the past two decades,” Eddie explained. “I mean, they would go to Sox games whenever he was in town. They would go to dinner. They were always really good friends. And later on, he just became a friend of our entire families, which was kind of cool.

“[Pope Leo XIV] was like family, almost,” Eddie explained. “He was always around, to say the least.”

“I would like to say we still kind of do have that contact, but I don’t know if we’re going to be reaching out to him anytime soon,” joked Eddie. “He’s probably really busy at the moment.”

The White Sox can be proud that the new Pope is cheering on his hometown team from afar. Maybe that could help them finally be competitive again.

Probably not, though.