Robert Prevost recently made history, becoming the first American-born Pope (he took the name Leo XIV). Prevost originally hailed from from nearby Dolton, IL, which is located just south of Chicago.
Leo XIV’s ascension to Pope is historic on many levels, not the least of which is the fact that the Pope is a White Sox fan.
The White Sox wasted no time announcing this tidbit to the world, once Leo’s fandom was ascertained.
There were no shortage of amateur detectives determined to find out if Leo had any allegiance to an MLB team, and as he spent his formative years in the Chicago area, it didn’t take long. Only hours after Leo was named Pope, a screen shot of him attending the 2005 World Series Game 1 was revealed, in which the ChiSox would sweep the Astros and claim their first World Series since 1917.
Not only did the future Pope attend game 1, he was sporting a White Sox jersey underneath his hoodie!
So, of course, White Sox gear — most of it customized to include “POPE LEO” and the No. 14 — has become quite the hot commodity. And we’re not necessarily talking bootleg merchandise either (although a good chunk of it is). The White Sox themselves will customize jerseys to have POPE LEO as the NOB, and 14 as the number. Licensed retailers are also customizing Sox jerseys, which go for over $200.
It’s not just the home pinstripes either. Sales of all White Sox jerseys, including custom Pope Leo City Connect, have greatly increased in the days since Leo became Pontiff.
Even knockoff jerseys are capitalizing on Leo’s fanhood.
There have even been special, custom jerseys created (variously and humorously billing them as Pope Leo “City Connect” or “Papal Connect uniforms”).
The merch bonanza isn’t limited to custom jerseys either. T-shirts, shirseys and more have all sought to cash in.
There are even t-shirts that mimic the Comiskey Park scoreboard announcement. Obvious Shirts has a whole collection.
As most baseball fans, and all White Sox fans know, the team hasn’t been particularly good the past several seasons (in fact, last year they set the MLB record for most losses in a season, with 121, finally dethroning the 1962 Mets for the title). So the boost to the team from official Pope Leo 14 merch has been apparenly been a boon to the team. And the Sox are 100% on board.
There have been no official sales figures released (yet) for ChiSox-themed Leo gear, but the team have confirmed that custom Leo jerseys (and related fan gear) are moving at a brisk pace. With the White Sox mired in last place (and with the AL’s worst record at 14-30), the feel good story of a local boy made good have at least given White Sox fans a chance to feel proud…or at least, more proud.
Normally Uni Watch would not be concerned about retail merchandise, but we’ll make a slight exception for the new Pontiff. If nothing else, White Sox fans have something to lord over the northsiders. The Cubs, for what it’s worth, probably deserve some of it, since they jumped the gun early by saying Leo is a Cubs fan.
Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV! pic.twitter.com/s02yDDegQd
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 8, 2025
Whoops.
Having the Pope as a fan of the White Sox may not help the team win any additional games. But it certainly can’t hurt.
San Lorenzo de Almagro finally won the Copa Libertadores a year after Pope Francis was elected. I doubt that the White Sox are going to win the World Series next year.
Awesome obscure fact, thank you!
As predicted by Ghost 2.5 years ago.
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In one sense, it’s all in good fun. But in another, I find it kinda weird so many entities are profiting off the new Pope. Also we gotta remember some of these symbols are sacred, not to be freely used for artistic license.
Thank you.
Agreed.
And I wish Pope Leo would tell his team it’s wrong to call themselves the White Sox and not wear white socks.
Haha
Meh, it’s not like the Vatican is hurting for cash.
THAT’S CAPITALISM, BABY!
Capitalism works best when its in good taste…
This was fun, thank you for this article on a friday.
The white and gold design could also be called a “Vatican City Connect”
Oh, well played!
Wish I’d thought of that…
Well, nobody can say the Holy Father isn’t close to the downtrodden.
To quote a sign at the Crosstown Showdown today: The Pope is a White Sox fan, but the congregation are Cubs fans
I’d love to see the number on the back be “XIV” rather than “14”.
Might be their final win total, as well…
Good fun. As a non-catholic I would like to wear that bogus Chicago t-shirt with the swiniging Pope logo, it looks cool.