Pope Leo XIV proved that Chicago's baseball rivalry extends all the way to Vatican City when he delivered a playful jab at Cubs fans during his regular appearance in St. Peter's Square, reminding them that their team came up short in the playoffs.
As the seventy-year-old pontiff waved to crowds from his vehicle during his weekly rounds at the Vatican, someone in the audience shouted "Go Cubs!" at the leader of the Catholic Church. Without missing a beat, Pope Leo XIV responded in Spanish and English, telling the Cubs supporter, "Han perdido! They lost!" The moment, captured on video by Vatican Media, quickly went viral on social media.
"That's our Pope," the Chicago White Sox official account posted alongside video of the exchange.
The pope was referencing the Cubs' elimination from the National League Division Series at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers, ending Chicago's North Side hopes despite a ninety-two win regular season. For White Sox fans, including the first American-born pope in history, the Cubs' playoff loss provided a rare bright spot in a season where their own team lost more than one hundred games for the third consecutive year.
Born Robert Francis Prevost in the south Chicago suburb of Dolton, Pope Leo XIV has never been shy about his White Sox fandom. When he was elected pope in May, some initially claimed he supported the Cubs, but his brother John quickly corrected the record, stating emphatically that whoever said Cubs got it wrong and that Robert always supported the South Side team.
The White Sox honored Pope Leo XIV by installing a mural near section one hundred forty at Guaranteed Rate Field, featuring a photograph of him attending Game One of the two thousand five World Series when the team won their first championship since nineteen seventeen. The team also held a special Catholic mass service in June where the pope delivered a message on the video board.
Pope Leo XIV's Chicago loyalty has become a regular feature of his papacy. He appeared at the Vatican wearing a White Sox cap in June, delighting fans around the world. White Sox manager Will Venable called it a proud moment for Chicago and expressed appreciation for having the pope's support, suggesting that perhaps his prayers might help turn around a franchise that has struggled mightily in recent seasons.
While Cubs fans might not appreciate the papal teasing, the lighthearted moment demonstrated that Pope Leo XIV keeps tabs on his hometown teams even from Rome. The exchange showcased the pontiff's personality and his connection to Chicago's sports culture, reminding the world that the leader of over one billion Catholics remains at heart a South Side baseball fan who never misses an opportunity to needle the crosstown rivals.