Chicago’s New Pope Sparks a Baseball Debate: Cubs or Sox?

The recent selection of a pope from Chicago has fans of both the Cubs and White Sox speculating on his baseball allegiance, a topic of great passion in the city. While initial reports suggested he might be a Cubs fan, his brother staunchly declares him to be loyal to the White Sox, igniting discussions around sports identity and regional loyalty.

In Chicago, a city where baseball allegiance runs deep, the question on many lips has been whether the newly appointed, Chicago-born pope, Leo XIV, supports the Chicago Cubs or the White Sox. The division among fans is stark, with Cubs supporters typically hailing from the North Side, where Wrigley Field is located, and South Siders fervently backing the White Sox, who play at Rate Field in Bridgeport. Even suburban fans tend to choose sides based on geographical ties, though some find themselves in the ambiguous center.

As news of the pope's heritage spread, fans from both factions rushed to claim his allegiance. Initially, a spokeswoman for the Cubs said the organization could not definitively confirm his fandom. However, Tom Ricketts, the executive chairman of the Cubs, extended an enthusiastic open invitation to the new pontiff. Ricketts suggested that Pope Leo XIV would not only be welcomed at Wrigley Field but could also participate in traditional baseball rituals, implying that the Cubs held a claim to the pope's support.

Yet, as speculation continued, a clarifying voice emerged: John Prevost, the pope’s brother, sought to set the record straight during an interview with WGN, a station renowned for its long-standing coverage of Cubs games. Prevost adamantly stated, “He was never, ever a Cubs fan. So I don’t know where that came from. He was always a Sox fan.” This revelation has added fuel to the fire of rivalry in a city where sports allegiance often speaks to deeper cultural divides.

In a world where sports affiliations can inspire passionate debates and camaraderie alike, the pope’s baseball preferences have humorously become a focal point for discussions about identity in Chicago. As the city watches, fans on both sides eagerly await the pope’s first public pronouncement regarding this newfound speculation about his baseball loyalties.