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Chicago Cubs claim Pope Leo XIV’s fandom, spark controversy with White Sox

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz05/08/25NickSchultz_7
Wrigley Field videoboard between the Chicago Cubs and White Sox
© Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

After white smoke emerged from the chimney at the Sistine Chapel Thursday afternoon, the Vatican announced Pope Leo XIV as the first-ever American pope. He’s a Chicago native, which sparked the question of whether he is a Cubs or White Sox fan.

ABC News initially reported the pope was a Cubs fan, and the franchise claimed his fandom on the marquee outside Wrigley Field. However, his brother confirmed to WGN-TV he is actually a White Sox fan.

Pope Leo XIV was born on Chicago’s South Side, where he also went to grade school before enrolling in a seminary high school. As for his baseball fandom, it’s clear he stuck to his roots rather than cheering for the Northsiders – although the Cubs took a victory lap following ABC News’ report, announcing “He’s a Cubs fan!” on the iconic marquee.

“A couple of things. Pope Leo XIV was born on the Southside of Chicago,” ABC News’ Terry Moran said after the announcement. “If Linsey [Davis’] reporting is true – and I trust it is – he is a Cubs fan on the Southside. That tells me one thing: He’s tough, because it is not easy to be a Cubs fan on the Southside of Chicago.”

Pope Leo XIV’s brother, John Prevost, admitted their house was split between the Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals growing up. However, even though there were reports and rumors suggesting the opposite, his brother has always been a White Sox fan.

“He was never, ever a Cubs fan,” Prevost said. “So I don’t know where that came from. He was always a Sox fan. Our mother was a Cubs fan. Maybe that clued in there. And our dad was a Cardinal fan. So I don’t know where that all came from.

“And all the aunts, our mom’s family, was from the Northside. So that’s why they were Cubs fans. … But where it came from, I don’t know, because he would’ve been the only one.”

Before John Prevost’s interview with WGN, the Cubs took a victory lap after hearing the reports Pope Leo XIV was apparently one of their own. They celebrated on the iconic Wrigley Field marquee, declaring “He’s a Cubs fan!” Owner Tom Ricketts also invited him to a game and sing the “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch, he said in a statement to the Chicago Tribune.