Robert Prevost a Chicago Cubs or White Sox fan? Pope Leo XIV's brother answers

After Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the new pope on Thursday, his MLB loyalties came into question

Updated on: May 9, 2025, 03:45:47 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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After Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the new pope on Thursday, his MLB loyalties came into question with several fans wondering if Pope Leo XIV is a Chicago Cubs or Chicago White Sox fan. Well, his brother has made the big revelation now.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica (REUTERS)

Speaking to WGN on Thursday, Prevost’s brother John said: “He was never, ever a Cubs fan. So I don’t know where that came from. He was always a Sox fan." However, not everyone in the household agrees with him. John further revealed that their mother was a Cubs fan and their father was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Holy Name Cathedral’s rector, Father Gregory Sakowicz, told the Associated Press that the new pope's announcement coincided with sunrise in Chicago. He called it ‘God’s way of remaining anonymous’. He further added that he was ‘happily shocked’ and also wondered whether Pope Leo XIV supported the Cubs or the White Sox.

CBS Sports' Matt Eurich, however, reported that Prevost is a Cubs fan, sparking even more confusion. The new pope is yet to make a public statement about his sports affiliations. His predecessor, Pope Francis, was widely known as a soccer fan, supporting his native Argentina and Lionel Messi at the World Cup.

The Cubs, meanwhile, congratulated Pope Leo XIV with a post on social media. “Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV!” the caption read. The photo of the stadium had ‘he is a Cubs fan’ written on a banner.

Chicago-born former US President Barack Obama also welcomed the new pope. “Michelle and I send our congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith,” he said in a post on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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