Mike Sweeney gifts bat and Royals jersey to Pope in Vatican

The White Sox have leaned in heavily on Pope Leo XIV being a fan of the Major League Baseball team.

Pope Leo XIV grew up on the south side of Chicago and was at the 2005 World Series, which the White Sox won over the Astros. Shortly after being elected Pope in May, vendors in the Windy City cranked out “Chicago Pope” T-shirts.

At Rate Field, the White Sox home stadium, there is a mural of the pope in Section 114. Pope Leo XIV recorded a video message that was played at Rate Field in May at a special Mass.

One member of the Royals Hall of Fame took a shot at getting Pope Leo XIV to convert. But it wasn’t to change from being a Catholic. No, Mike Sweeney tried to sway the Pope to support the Royals.

The Catholic News Service Rome shared a photo Wednesday of Sweeney with a Royals jersey that he presented to Pope Leo XIV. The website ANSA said Sweeney also gave a personalized baseball bat to the Pope in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

It’s doubtful the Pope would change sports allegiances, but it’s kind of cool to know he now has a Royals jersey.

While playing for the Royals from 1995-2007, Sweeney was known for being one of baseball’s best hitters and for his faith. After retiring from baseball in 2010, Sweeney co-founded Catholic Sports Camps.

“It’s not a what, it’s who. It’s Jesus Christ. Body, blood, soul and divinity. We’re going to teach them that praying the rosary is actually holding hands with the Mother of God and worshiping her Son,” Sweeney told the Southern Nebraska Register in 2022 of his camps. “Going to a Catholic Baseball Camp is going to teach you about virtue and playing baseball and getting dirty and going to confession on the baseball field. We did it.”

This story was originally published October 1, 2025 at 4:55 PM.