Pope Leo XIV blesses White Sox ahead of Astros playoff — SkimNews
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- Pope Leo XIV sent a letter dated Sept. 9 to White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf ahead of Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game 1 against the Houston Astros, invoking "the Almighty's abundant blessings" upon Reinsdorf and his loved ones.
- The letter quoted the pontiff saying "sport can truly become a school of life, where all can learn that abundance does not come from victory at any cost" and urged the team to "foster bonds of friendship and solidarity."
- The correspondence responded to the team's Aug. 11 promotion distributing miter-shaped hats with the White Sox logo; South Side native Father Tom McCarthy had given one of the miters to the Pope in August, prompting the pontiff to write, "I am most grateful for this thoughtful gesture."
- Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native and longtime Sox fan, attended the 2005 World Series opener against Houston from Section 140, Row 19, Seat 2, watching his team win 5-3 on the way to a four-game sweep and its first title since 1917.
- The Pope broke Vatican protocol in 2025 by donning a White Sox cap, and in May 2025 the team unveiled a graphic installation near his old seat featuring a waving image of him alongside a photo from the TV broadcast with friend Ed Schmit.
- Rate Field hosted an event in June 2025 honoring his election as the first American pope; last October he shouted "they lost" to a fan who yelled "Go Cubs!"
Why it matters: The Pope's blessing lands as the White Sox open a best-of-three AL Wild Card series against Houston — the same opponent they swept in the 2005 World Series opener the future pontiff attended in person. Since his 2025 election as the first American pope, he has made the White Sox a signature break from Vatican formality, turning the team into a cultural touchpoint that extends well beyond sports.
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