The Chicago White Sox received a letter from Pope Leo XIV on the same day of their playoff opener against the Houston Astros. The Sept. 9 note arrived at Chicago’s Rate Field on Tuesday, ahead of Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series.
The letter was addressed to White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and it came from a pontiff with deep Chicago roots. Leo grew up in the city and has been a White Sox fan since his days there. He was known as Robert Prevost, or Father Bob, when he went to the World Series opener 21 years ago, a 5-3 White Sox victory over the Astros.
Leo’s Message To Reinsdorf
The pontiff began his message by thanking Reinsdorf for the letter he sent after the team paid tribute to Leo during an Aug. 11 game against Cincinnati. His response carried a familiar papal tone, blending faith and sportsmanship.
“It is my hope that the White Sox will continue to foster bonds of friendship and solidarity among people, and thus bear hopeful witness to the possibility of living and working together in peace,” Leo wrote.
“With these sentiments, I willingly invoke the Almighty’s abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones.”
A Fan From Chicago
Leo’s connection to the White Sox runs deeper than a simple note. He grew up in Chicago, and his fandom dates back to his youth in the city. When he attended the World Series opener 21 years ago, he was still known by his secular name, Robert Prevost, or Father Bob.
The 5-3 victory over the Astros that day came before this season’s rematch.
The Turnaround Question
The White Sox earned an AL wild card this year by finishing with an 84-78 record. The team lost at least 101 games in each of the previous three seasons.
Asked recently if he had a hand in the team’s surprising turnaround, the smiling pontiff responded with a shrug.
“No comment.”
That answer, delivered with a smile, adds a touch of humor to the story. A pontiff deflecting a question about a team’s success is exactly the kind of moment that makes sports coverage worth reading.
The Letter’s Arrival
The letter reached Chicago’s Rate Field on Tuesday, the day before the game. It came from a pontiff whose words were directed at the team’s owner.
The team made the arrival public. The timing placed the letter ahead of the opener.
What Leo Wrote
The letter itself is brief but pointed. It opens with gratitude, moves to a message about unity, and closes with a blessing. Here is the breakdown:
- Gratitude: Leo thanked Reinsdorf for the letter he sent after the Aug. 11 tribute.
- Hope for Unity: He expressed hope that the team would “foster bonds of friendship and solidarity among people.”
- Peaceful Witness: He asked the team to “bear hopeful witness to the possibility of living and working together in peace.”
- Blessing: He invoked “the Almighty’s abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones.”
The Numbers Behind It
The story is full of dates and records. Here is what matters:
- Record: The White Sox finished 84-78 this year.
- Wild Card: The team earned an AL wild card.
- Previous Seasons: The team lost at least 101 games in each of the past three seasons.
- World Series Opener: The 5-3 win over the Astros came 21 years ago.
- Aug. 11 Tribute: The team paid tribute to Leo during a game against Cincinnati.
Editorial View
This is a story about a pope who is also a fan. Leo XIV grew up in Chicago, attended a World Series opener, and now sends letters to the team he has followed for decades.
The letter is a small gesture, but it carries weight. A pontiff invoking the Almighty’s blessings upon a sports franchise is not common.
The “No Comment” response to the turnaround question adds a layer of humor. A smiling pontiff deflecting a question about a team’s success is exactly the kind of moment that makes sports coverage worth reading.
What remains to be seen is whether the White Sox can live up to the pontiff’s hopes for “living and working together in peace.”
Source material: “White Sox receive letter from Pope Leo XIV on playoff opener,” ABC News.
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