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As the first pope to get out of the United States, Robert Prevost’s American sporting ties quickly became a global conversation point after being appointed Pope Leo XIV.
As a native of Chicago, the White Sox Fandom of Prevost was revealed this week, and it turns out that he is not only an occasional fan either. Images of Prevost attended the 2005 World Series match 1 of World Series on Friday on social networks.
By pure chance, Prevost was shown on the MLB on Fox Broadcast for this game at US Cellular Field on October 22, 2005, and the cameras caught him at the top of the ninth round while the White Sox won a 5-3 victory against the Houston Astros.
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The White Sox won the series in a four -game scan, for their only championship since 1917.
Prevost was revealed for the first time as a White Sox fan when his brother, John Prevost, mentioned him in an interview with WGN-TV.
“He has always been a fan of Sox,” said John.
But the interest in the Pope’s roots could apparently not end with baseball.
The Reverend Robert P. Hagan, a friend of Prevost and chaplain at the Alma Mater du Pope, Villanova, told the Athletic the link of Prevost with the New York Knicks and their star range of former Villanova players.
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The newly elected pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States appears on the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica, in the Vatican, on May 8, 2025. (Guglielmo Mangiapane / Reuters)
“We had a lot of fun watching the Knicks, because Jalen (Brunson) and Josh (Hart) and Donte (Divincenzo) were there, and now Mikal (Bridges) is there,” said Hagan. “I think Pope Leo will always keep an eye on the Knicks Nova. I think he will always keep an eye on the Wildcats, and I think he will be very proud not only of who they are, but of the way they play with a certain spirit and altruism.”
Leo XIV was brought for the first time to the Vatican by Pope Francis to serve as a prefect of the Dicastery for the bishops in January 2023, which is one of the most important positions of the Catholic Church, because it envisages the nominations of bishops published on a global scale.
Francis then raised it to the Cardinal post in September 2023.
Leo would have been closely aligned with Francis’ teachings as head of the Catholic Church, in particular with regard to his positions concerning the environment, awareness of the poor and migrants, and the opening of the Catholic Church Kiss more followers.
Pope Newly elected Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert F. Prévost in the United States, appeared on the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica at the Vatican, on May 8, 2025. (Dylan Martinez / Reuters)
In 2015, Leo obtained Peruvian citizenship. He stayed in Peru until he was moved to the Vatican in 2023.
During his recent years in Peru, Leo has also been vice-president of the permanent council of the Conference of Peruvian bishops from 2018 to 2023, which probably helped him to ensure his role as a prefect of the Dicastery for the bishops under Francis.
