The Windy City rivalry made its way to the Vatican on Wednesday when Pope Leo XIV, perhaps the world’s most famous White Sox fan, seemed to take some glee from the Cubs’ playoff elimination.
The Chicago Cubs’ season ended in heartbreak last week as they were eliminated in the National League Division Series in five games by the Milwaukee Brewers.
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The pope, a Chicago native, was waving to a crowd at the Vatican on Wednesday when someone shouted, “Go Cubs!”
He immediately responded “Han perdido!” in Spanish, followed by “They lost!”
It didn’t matter that the Cubs had 92 wins during the regular season, their most since 2018. Or that the White Sox finished with only 60 victories and in last place in the American League Central division. Pope Leo XIV had to let his fandom be heard.
When Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the first pope from the United States last May, attention immediately turned to which baseball team he supported. After the Cubs initially claimed him on social media, his brother told NBC Chicago his support resided with the South Side team.
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“Whoever said Cubs on the radio got it wrong,” John Prevost said. “It’s Sox.”
Video surfaced shortly after of Pope Leo XIV attending the 2005 World Series against the Astros.
This June, Pope Leo XIV made a public appearance wearing the traditional white robe — and a White Sox baseball cap.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
