Pope Leo Xiv's Sports Fandom Coming To Light With White Sox World Series Appearance, Villanova-knicks Ties

As nan first -ever Pope to hail from nan U.S., Robert Prevost's American sports ties quickly became a constituent of world speech aft he was appointed Pope Leo XIV. 

As a Chicago native, Prevost's White Sox fandom came to ray this week, and it turns retired he's not conscionable a casual instrumentality either. Footage of Prevost attending Game 1 of nan 2005 World Series surfaced connected societal media Friday. 

By axenic chance, Prevost was shown connected nan MLB connected FOX broadcast for that crippled astatine U.S. Cellular Field connected 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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The White Sox went connected to triumph nan bid successful a four-game sweep, for their only title since 1917. 

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.

But nan Pope's rooting liking apparently mightiness not extremity pinch baseball. 

Reverand Robert P. Hagan, a friend of Prevost's and a chaplain astatine nan Pope's alma mater, Villanova University, told The Athletic astir Prevost's nexus to nan New York Knicks and their prima lineup of erstwhile Villanova players. 

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Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of nan United States appears connected nan pavilion of St. Peter's Basilica, astatine nan Vatican, May 8, 2025. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)

"We’ve had a batch of nosy watching nan Knicks, because Jalen (Brunson) and Josh (Hart) and Donte (DiVincenzo) was there, and now Mikal (Bridges) is there," Hagan said. "I deliberation that Pope Leo will still support an oculus connected nan Nova Knicks. I deliberation he’ll still support an oculus connected nan Wildcats, and I deliberation he’ll beryllium very proud of not conscionable who they are but nan measurement that they play pinch a definite tone and unselfishness."

Leo XIV was first brought to nan Vatican by Pope Francis to service arsenic prefect of nan Dicastery for Bishops in January 2023, which is 1 of nan astir important positions successful nan Catholic Church, arsenic it vets bishop nominations issued globally.

Francis past elevated him to nan position of Cardinal successful September 2023. 

Leo was reported to beryllium intimately aligned to Francis' teachings arsenic leader of nan Catholic Church, peculiarly erstwhile it came to his positions regarding the environment, outreach to nan mediocre and migrants, and opening nan Catholic Church to clasp much followers.

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Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert F. Prevost of nan U.S., appears connected nan pavilion of St. Peter's Basilica astatine nan Vatican, May 8, 2025. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)

In 2015, Leo obtained Peruvian citizenship. He remained successful Peru until he was moved to nan Vatican successful 2023. 

During his last years successful Peru, Leo besides served arsenic vice president of nan imperishable assembly of nan Peruvian Bishops’ Conference from 2018 to 2023, which apt helped him unafraid his domiciled arsenic prefect of nan Dicastery for Bishops nether Francis.

Fox News' Caitlin McFall and nan Associated Press contributed to this report.

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