Video shows Pope Leo XIV at Game 1 of the 2005 World Series

We have further proof that the Pope is not only a White Sox fan, but that he also attended one of the biggest games in franchise history.

Thanks to a photo published by the Chicago Sun-Times, fans got their first glimpse of Pope Leo XIV at the 2005 World Series dressed in White Sox gear. Less than a day later, we now have video from Game 1, where the pontiff was briefly shown on the FOX broadcast before Bobby Jenks secured the final out for a 5-3 victory.

Leo, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was named the new pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday. Born in Chicago’s Mercy Hospital and raised in nearby Dolton, he is the first pope to hail from the United States and has instantly become one of Chicago’s most famous natives.

Following word of his elevation to the papacy, many wondered whether he supported the Cubs or the White Sox. The pope’s brother, John Prevost, settled the heated social media debate in an interview with WGN on Thursday afternoon.

“He was never, ever a Cubs fan. So I don’t know where that came from. He was always a Sox fan,” Prevost said. “Our mother was a Cubs fan. I don’t know, maybe that clued in there, and our dad was a Cardinals fan, so I don’t know where that all came from. And all the aunts in our mom’s family were from the north side, so that’s why they were Cubs fans.”

The confirmation came at a poor time for the Cubs, who believed an erroneous report and had already posted what they thought was good news outside of Wrigley Field.

Of course, the White Sox didn’t hold back once word quickly spread that he instead supported the South Siders. The team released a scoreboard message to playfully mock the Cubs, as well as a custom jersey for the pontiff.

In a statement released to the media, the Sox said the following:

“Family always knows best, and it sounds like Pope Leo XIV’s lifelong fandom falls a little closer to 35th and Shields. Some things are bigger than baseball, and in this case, we’re glad to have a White Sox fan represented at the Vatican. A pinstripes White Sox jersey with his name on it and a hat already are on the way to Rome, and of course, the Pontiff always is welcome at his ballpark.”

It’s been a wild stretch for the White Sox, its fans, and everyone in the Chicago area as we continue to learn more about the Pope’s ties to the area. We will continue to provide updates as more becomes available.

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Featured Photo: FOX/Major League Baseball