Pope Leo hilariously trolls the Chicago Cubs after being heckled by fan at the Vatican
Pope Leo XIV may be the Supreme Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, but he’s not above attacking Chicago’s North Side when the opportunity arises.
Greeting pilgrims, tourists and local fans from his Popemobile, Pope Leo heard a faint cry of ‘Go Cubs’ as he drove through St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Wednesday.
Papa Leo couldn’t help but chuckle when considering his South Side roots and obvious allegiance to the Chicago White Sox; Not to mention the Cubs’ recent playoff loss to the rival Milwaukee Brewers.
‘Han perdido!’ Pope Leo said in Spanish, before repeating his statement in English: ‘They lost!’
Of course, the Cubs made the playoffs in 2025, while their South Side rivals managed just 60 wins after a historically poor 41-121 campaign in 2024.
On the other hand, both franchises are coming off a rough century. While the White Sox’s last championship drought spanned from 1917 to 2005, the Cubs’ 2016 World Series crown marked their first since 1908, when the Vatican sent a mission to the still-developing United States.
Pope Leo XIV makes gesture on the day of general audience in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican
Chicago native Pope Leo XIV greets faithful during weekly general audience
But for all their struggles, recent and historic, White Sox fans were thrilled to see one of their own emerge as a world leader.
A Southlander wrote to X: ‘We need more of his intervention in the coming years.’
“First Pope to hear about Brice Turang,” another added, referring to the Brewers second baseman.
One fan wrote that he was ‘very happy that this man is our pope.’
A few angry Cubs fans chimed in, pointing out that the North Siders had won 92 games in 2025, while the White Sox had won just 101 games over the past two seasons.
Chicago White Sox and Bears Pope Leo XIV’s attire is seen outside the ballpark before the MLB game against the Detroit Tigers on August 11.
Pope Leo wears his White Sox hat over a pumpkin while blessing a couple in June
Pope Leo’s fandom has been a rare bright spot for the South Siders, who recently unveiled a tribute to Robert Francis Prevost, born in 1955, as the White Sox were in third place.
Now, in section 140 of Rate Field on Chicago’s South Side, in Row 19 and Seat 2, fans can find a graphic installation depicting Pope Leo’s seat during Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. Chicago would win its first MLB crown since 1917 that year.
Footage from Chicago’s 5-3 victory over the visiting NL champion Houston Astros shows a young Pope Leo in the crowd, as before the Order of St. Augustine.
There were some erroneous reports after he was named Pope that he was actually a Cubs fan, but his brother John Prevost has since put that myth to rest.
Before a June game between the Tigers and White Sox, a wall decal of Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo
“He was never a Cubs fan, so I don’t know where that came from,” Prevost told WGN TV in Chicago. ‘He was always a Sox fan. Our mother was a Cubs fan. I don’t know, maybe that gave a clue and our dad was a Cardinals fan, so I don’t know where this all came from.
‘And all the aunts, our mom’s family was from the north side, so they were Cubs fans.’
Pope Leo has since turned to publicly displaying his love for the White Sox. In June, Pope Leo, blessing a newlywed couple at the Vatican, was given a White Sox hat, which he quickly placed on top of their pumpkin.
He was also seen leading the ‘Let’s go White Sox’ chants in St. Peter’s Square.
