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In a reversal of roles, a fan has signed a jersey for a pro athlete.
Pope Leo XIV had a signed jersey delivered to the former Chicago White Sox Great Paul Konerko.
Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich presented Konerko a jersey with the new Pontiff’s signature on the back during a ceremony before a game against Cleveland Guardians. It had the six-time all-Star’s last name and “Pope Leo” over No. 14.
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Outfield Video Board shows a congratulatory message to Pope Leo XIV before a game between Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox on Rate Field 9 May 2025 in Chicago (Abigail Dean/Getty Images)
Robert Prevost became the first pope from the United States in the history of the Catholic Church when he was elected May 8. The Chicago-born missionary who took the name Leo XIV is a White Sox fan.
Prevost participated in 2005 the World Series opener against Houston in Chicago. He saw from section 140, row 19, seat 2, when White Sox beat Astros 5-3 on his way to a four-game sweep and their first title since 1917.
Prevost was shown on the “MLB on the Fox” broadcast to that game on the US Cellular Field 22 October 2005, and the cameras caught him under the top of the ninth lap when White Sox got a 5-3 win over Houston Astros.
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According to White Sox, the pope participated in the game with the deceased Ed Schmit, a family friend and season ticket holder. They knew each other through their work at a Catholic high school on Chicago’s South Side, and Schmit’s son, Nick, is still the account holder of the Pope’s World Series seat.
Prevost was first revealed as a White Sox fan when his brother, John Prevost, mentioned it in an interview with WGN TV.
“He was always a sox fan,” John said.
In May, the team revealed a graphically installed near the seat paid tribute to Pope Leo and that moment. The pillar work has a waving pope Leo XIV along with a picture from the TV broadcast of the future pope sitting with Good Schmit and his grandson, Eddie.
Fans go outside Rate Field before a game between Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox. (Patrick Gorski/Imag- Pictures)
Members of the 2005 team are in Chicago this weekend to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the championship. White Sox debuted uniform spots that honor late closer Bobby Jenks, who died last week in Portugal, where he was treated for stomach cancer. On Friday, the team revealed a statue of the former ace Mark Buehrle.
