Honestly, the last couple of years for the Chicago White Sox have been, well, let's call them "character building." We broke the modern-day record for losses. We’ve seen jerseys torn up and fans hiding under bags. But then 2025 happened. The white smoke went up from the Sistine Chapel, and suddenly, the South Side had the ultimate "gotcha" for every Cubs fan on the planet.
Pope Leo XIV is a Sox fan.
That isn't a joke. It’s not some weird AI-generated fever dream or a marketing stunt cooked up in a boardroom at Guaranteed Rate Field. It’s real. And because of that, the White Sox Pope Leo jersey has become the weirdest, most sought-after piece of sports memorabilia in the city’s history. If you've walked around Bridgeport or even the Vatican lately, you've probably seen them. But there is a lot of confusion about what’s official, what’s custom, and why on earth the Pope is wearing number 14.
The World Series Connection
Basically, it all started when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—a guy born in Chicago and raised in Dolton—was elected as the 267th Pope on May 8, 2025. Within hours, the internet did what it does best: it dug up receipts.
Footage surfaced from the 2005 World Series. You remember that year, right? The sweep? Well, sitting in Section 140, Row 19, Seat 2 for Game 1 was "Father Bob." He was there with his friend, the late Ed Schmit. When the world saw the future Pontiff in the stands, the city went wild.
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The White Sox didn't waste a second. They officially sent a pinstriped jersey and a hat to Rome. Since then, the team has even installed a graphic at the stadium to mark the exact spot where he sat. It’s become a sort of pilgrimage site for fans who want to touch the seat where the Holy Father watched Paul Konerko and Mark Buehrle make history.
Why the Number 14?
You might be wondering why every White Sox Pope Leo jersey you see has the number 14 on it. It’s actually a double meaning that feels almost too perfect to be true.
- The Papal Name: He took the name Leo XIV.
- The Legend: Number 14 is retired by the White Sox for Paul Konerko, the captain who caught the final out in '05.
It’s a "one 14 to another" situation. In July 2025, during a pregame ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the World Series win, Konerko was actually presented with a jersey signed by the Pope himself. Cardinal Blase Cupich did the honors. Konerko’s reaction? "Surreal." He even signed a jersey to send back to the Vatican, though he joked he wasn't sure the Pope would be as excited about his signature as the other way around.
Where do you actually get one?
This is where it gets kinda tricky. If you go to the official MLB shop, you might not find a "Pope Leo" category next to the "Eloy Jiménez" stuff. The team has been a little careful about "monetizing" the papacy too aggressively.
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However, local Chicago shops haven't been as shy.
- Grandstand Sports: Located right near the stadium, they started pumping these out immediately. Stephanie Ganal, the co-owner, told reporters that people were lining up at 9:15 AM for a 10:00 AM opening just to get one.
- Catholic Imprint: They’ve been selling a "Limited Edition Pope Leo Football Jersey" style that actually funnels a share of the profits to Catholic Charities of Chicago.
- Customs: Most fans are just hitting the "Custom Jersey" button on the official site and typing in "POPE LEO" with the number 14.
The Cubs Rivalry Goes Global
You can't talk about the White Sox Pope Leo jersey without mentioning the "Jersey-gate" of October 2025. Mar Awa III, the leader of the Assyrian Church of the East and a die-hard Cubs fan, visited the Vatican. In a move that was equal parts hilarious and bold, he gifted the Pope a customized blue Cubs jersey with "Leo 14" on the back.
The photos are priceless. The Pope is holding up the North Side threads with a look of pure "resignation."
It’s not just a wardrobe choice; it’s a lifestyle. During a general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Pope actually joined in on a "White Sox!" chant. And when someone yelled "Go Cubs!" at him after they were eliminated from the playoffs, he reportedly shouted back in Spanish, "Han perdido!" (They lost!).
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What to Look for When Buying
If you're looking to snag one, don't just grab the first thing you see on a random social media ad. There are a lot of knockoffs that look like they were printed in a basement.
- Fabric: The high-end replicas (like the ones from Pro Jersey Sports) use the Nike Men’s Home Premium Twill. It’s moisture-wicking and has that authentic double-layer tackle twill for the name and number.
- Details: Look for the pinstripes. The most iconic version is the home white pinstripe, mirroring what the team wore when Father Bob was in the stands in 2005.
- The "Da Pope" Variants: You’ll see a lot of shirts and hoodies that say "Da Pope." This is a play on the old SNL "Da Bears" sketch. It's fun, but it's not the "authentic" look most collectors are after.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to own this piece of South Side history, here is what you need to do:
- Visit Grandstand Sports on 35th St: They are the "OG" source for these and have been the most consistent with stock.
- Custom Order via MLB: If you want the official Nike on-field quality, use the "Customize" tool. Put "POPE LEO" in the name field and "14" in the number field. Note that some filters might flag "Pope" as a restricted word depending on the day's policy, but most fans have had success.
- Check the Sizing: These run like standard MLB jerseys (large). If you're planning to wear it over a hoodie for a chilly April game at the Rate, size up.
- Check out the 2025 Topps Now Card: If a jersey is too expensive, Topps released a limited-edition card of the Pope that sold over 133,000 copies. You can usually find them on the secondary market.
This whole saga is a reminder that sports are weird and beautiful. You can be the leader of a billion people, but at the end of the day, you're still just a guy from Dolton who remembers where he was when the White Sox finally won it all.