We can safely say the MLB playoffs officially have the attention of the Vatican.
As Pope Leo XIV appeared in a parade Wednesday atop the Popemobile, one attendee bravely yelled “Go Cubs!” at the Chicago native and lifelong White Sox fan. Leo responded by pointing at the man and yelling back in both Spanish and English. The message was the same in both languages:
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“Han perdido! They lost!
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His favorite team was, of course, happy to see it:
This is the stuff you can only get when an American is sitting on the papal throne.
The Cubs indeed lost, with their season ending last weekend in a five-game NLDS against the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers. The North Siders nearly pulled off an incredible comeback, erasing a 2-0 series deficit with back-to-back wins at Wrigley Field, but Milwaukee found its footing with a dominant bullpen game in Game 5.
Leo, previously known as Robert Francis Prevost, grew up a White Sox fan despite his mother being a Cubs fan and his father rooting for the Cardinals, per his brother. Before reaching the Vatican, he could be seen rooting for his team during its 2005 World Series championship run.
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Since ascending to the papacy in a surprise election, Leo has not been shy about his fandom. He has worn a White Sox hat during his general audience and showed Wednesday he’s not afraid to return fire with trolls from rival fanbases.