Pope Leo XIV sends blessing to White Sox ahead of playoff opener
Pope Leo XIV, a lifelong White Sox fan and Chicago native, offered words of support to the team before its playoff game against the Astros.
Written by EGazette’s AI. The facts are drawn from cited sources; the analysis is the AI’s own.
Pope Leo XIV, a longtime Chicago White Sox fan, sent a letter of support to the team ahead of its playoff opener against the Houston Astros on Tuesday.
The pontiff, a Chicago native, has been known for his ties to the South Side franchise since before his elevation to the papacy, and his message was seen by fans as a rare moment of levity tying the Vatican to Major League Baseball's postseason.
The White Sox entered the American League Wild Card Series opener carrying the well wishes as they faced Houston, a team that has been a frequent postseason opponent for Chicago in recent years.
Details of the letter's full contents were not extensively disclosed, but its timing just before Tuesday's game underscored the pope's continued interest in his hometown team even from the Vatican.
The gesture added a lighthearted subplot to the series opener, with fans and commentators noting the unusual crossover between religious leadership and professional sports fandom.
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