![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/public\/sports\/spt-columns-blogs\/for-petes-sake\/p7iqao\/picture312345945\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_1140\/USATSI_26135882.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div> The Chicago White Sox displayed a scoreboard announcement of Pope Leo XIV before a game earlier this month against the Miami Marlins at Rate Field.<\/p>\n Imagn Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n <\/p>\n The White Sox have leaned in heavily on Pope Leo XIV being a fan of the Major League Baseball team.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pope Leo XIV grew up on the south side of Chicago and was at the 2005 World Series<\/a>, which the White Sox won over the Astros. Shortly after being elected Pope in May, vendors in the Windy City cranked out \u201cChicago Pope\u201d T-shirts<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At Rate Field, the White Sox home stadium, there is a mural of the pope<\/a> in Section 114. Pope Leo XIV recorded a video message that was played at Rate Field in May at a special Mass.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One member of the Royals Hall of Fame took a shot at getting Pope Leo XIV to convert. But it wasn\u2019t to change from being a Catholic. No, Mike Sweeney tried to sway the Pope to support the Royals.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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<\/a> to the Pope in St. Peter\u2019s Square in Vatican City.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s doubtful the Pope would change sports allegiances, but it\u2019s kind of cool to know he now has a Royals jersey.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While playing for the Royals from 1995-2007, Sweeney was known for being one of baseball\u2019s best hitters and for his faith. After retiring from baseball in 2010, Sweeney co-founded<\/a> Catholic Sports Camps.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not a what, it\u2019s who. It\u2019s Jesus Christ. Body, blood, soul and divinity. We\u2019re going to teach them that praying the rosary is actually holding hands with the Mother of God and worshiping her Son,\u201d Sweeney told the Southern Nebraska Register in 2022<\/a> of his camps. \u201cGoing 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.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This story was originally published October 1, 2025 at 4:55 PM.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n Matt Marton
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