Pope Leo Xiv Gives Autographed Jersey To White Sox Player From 2005 World Series Team

In a reversal of roles, a instrumentality has signed a jersey for a pro athlete. 

Pope Leo XIV had a signed jersey delivered to erstwhile Chicago White Sox awesome Paul Konerko. 

Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich presented Konerko a jersey pinch nan caller pontiff's signature connected nan backmost during a ceremonial earlier a crippled against nan Cleveland Guardians. It had nan six-time All-Star's past sanction and "Pope Leo" supra nan No. 14.

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The outfield video committee displays a congratulatory connection for Pope Leo XIV earlier a crippled betwixt nan Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox astatine Rate Field May 9, 2025, successful Chicago (Abigail Dean/Getty Images)

Robert Prevost became nan first pope from nan U.S. successful nan history of nan Catholic Church erstwhile he was elected May 8. The Chicago-born missionary, who took nan sanction Leo XIV, is simply a White Sox fan.

Prevost attended nan 2005 World Series opener against Houston successful Chicago. He watched from Section 140, Row 19, Seat 2 arsenic nan White Sox hit nan Astros 5-3 connected their measurement to a four-game expanse and their first title since 1917.

Prevost was shown connected nan "MLB connected FOX" broadcast for that crippled astatine U.S. Cellular Field Oct. 22, 2005, and nan cameras caught him during nan apical of nan ninth inning arsenic nan White Sox were clinching a 5-3 triumph complete nan Houston Astros.

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According to nan White Sox, nan pope attended nan crippled pinch nan precocious Ed Schmit, a family friend and play summons holder. They knew each different done their activity astatine a Catholic precocious schoolhouse connected Chicago’s South Side, and Schmit’s son, Nick, remains nan relationship holder for nan pope’s World Series seat.

Prevost was first revealed arsenic a White Sox instrumentality erstwhile his brother, John Prevost, mentioned it successful an question and reply pinch WGN-TV. 

"He was ever a Sox fan," John said.

In May, nan squad unveiled a schematic installed adjacent nan spot paying tribute to Pope Leo and that moment. The pillar artwork features a waving Pope Leo XIV on pinch a image from nan TV broadcast of nan early pope sitting pinch bully Schmit and his grandson, Eddie.

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Fans locomotion extracurricular Rate Field earlier a crippled betwixt nan Chicago White Sox and nan Boston Red Sox.  (Patrick Gorski/Imagn Images)

Members of nan 2005 squad are successful Chicago this play to observe nan 20th day of nan title run. The White Sox debuted azygous patches honoring precocious person Bobby Jenks, who died past week successful Portugal, wherever he was being treated for tummy cancer. On Friday, nan squad unveiled a statue of erstwhile ace Mark Buehrle.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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