The Chicago White Sox unveiled a new graphic mural honoring Pope Leo XIV, located in the section he sat in during the 2005 World Series game he attended.
The Chicago White Sox honored Pope Leo XIV on Monday, May 19, with a mural on the concourse wall near the section where he sat during Game 1 of the 2005 World Series.
The mural, which is actually a graphic installation rather than a painting, was installed near Section 140 at Rate Field. That is where Pope Leo XIV, who at the time was Fr. Robert Prevost, sat during the game in 2005.
Should Pope Leo visit the United States, his favorite baseball team is ready to welcome him.
“He has an open invite to throw out a first pitch,” said Brooks Boyer, the White Sox executive vice president, chief revenue and marketing officer, in a column written by White Sox beat writer Scott Merkin. “Heck, maybe we’ll let him get an at-bat.”
“For us to acknowledge the section by having the Pope be part of our history, for us to be able to put something as quickly as we have been able to do, to put this on the ballpark is something very special for us. It only adds to our 125 years of history at the park,” said Boyer.
Boyer never thought he would live to see a pope from North America, never mind “a White Sox fan from the South side of Chicago that is among us.”
The future pope attended the World Series game with his longtime friend Ed Schmit, who died in 2020. Schmit and his children called Pope Leo “Fr. Bob.” The two met when they worked together at St. Rita of Cascia High School, located on Chicago’s South Side. Pope Leo XIV worked there before his ordination to the priesthood.
Schmit’s five children were present at the unveiling, said Merkin.
Ed Schmit IV, who sat next to the future pope at the game, told Merkin that he only remembers two things: White Sox player Jermaine Dye hitting a home run, and his father receiving a call saying they had been shown on television.
“I knew the video existed,” said Schmit. “When all this transpired, I looked back and I said, ‘Is that the Pope next to me?’ Sure enough it was. It was awesome to see that. I’m glad I can share that with people. I don’t want anyone to think he’s a Cubs fan because he’s not a Cubs fan. The Pope is a White Sox fan. We have proof. He was at Game 1 of the World Series, and everyone knows now.”
Prevost and the elder Schmit remained in contact until his death, said his daughter, Heidi Skokal.
“Right around the time my dad was passing, Father Bob made sure he spoke with him,” she said.
Her father also made a surprising prediction: Fr. Bob would be pope.
“He said to Father Bob, ‘I know you are going to be the next Pope. I might not be here to see it, but I will definitely be looking down.’ I’m sure he is today,” she said.
