Chicago White Sox baseball club shared that Pope Leo XIV, when invited, expressed a desire to launch the ceremonial first pitch for a future season's inaugural game, subject to his itinerary's availability. The individual set to become the eventual proprietor of the team Justin Ishbia, a Chicago billionaire met with the pope at the Vatican after an audience. (Pictured above - Vatican Media)
The Pontiff's preferred athletic team is the White Sox, and his support of the Chicago team is well-publicized. He was raised as a steadfast Sox devotee in Dolton, a southern suburb of Chicago.
Justin Ishbia, a Chicago billionaire, head of a private equity corporation, and part-owner of the team, informed several major media sources that he encountered the Pope outside St. Peter's Basilica during his general audience on November 19 and conveyed his blueprint for the White Sox's future.
Ishbia stated he extended a proposal for the Pope to journey to Chicago and toss the opening-day pitch if a proposed new stadium materializes. He also presented a 2005 World Series champion team garment, autographed by the players, as a symbol of collective effort and endurance.
"I'm hopeful you'd bless our venue, and our venue will be a place that creates delight and merriment and numerous championships for decades to come," Ishbia told a sports reporter.
An Unforgettable Moment in Team History
The now-iconic video recording of the then-Father Robert Prevost's appearance during the first game of the 2005 World Series between the White Sox and the Houston Astros displayed Pope Leo's standing as the globe's most recognizable Sox fan.
The team has since placed a special display in the precise spot where he sat that evening: section 140, row 19, seat 2 of Rate Field. The White Sox claimed the championship that year. Pope Leo XIV also delivered a video message during a public event hosted by the team and the Archdiocese of Chicago celebrating his election on June 14, 2025, at Rate Field.
Ishbia, explained that he is the next "custodian"—not "proprietor"—of the White Sox organization, asserting the franchise is the property of the city of Chicago.
The team has been under the proprietorship of Jerry Reinsdorf since 1981. Reinsdorf announced in June that Ishbia would potentially assume complete control by 2034.
Ishbia met the Pontiff via a mutual acquaintance, U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch of the Chicago region.
Ishbia told the Chicago Sun-Times that his role as steward includes efforts to bring the globally beloved Pope into the "family" of the organization, hoping they'll have "a fan in our corner who has unique access to upstairs."
Regarding the meeting on November 19, which Ishbia called "a truly marvelous event and one that I won't forget," the new part-owner reportedly sought a papal benediction for a desired future replacement stadium when the lease for the current one expires.
News organizations reported the Pope personally accepted the signed uniform from Ishbia, preventing it from being handed off to an aide. Ishbia recounted Pope Leo's words:
"He said, 'No, no, no. Hold on—that stays with me.'"
Sources: https://www.aol.com/news/white-sox-invite-pope-leo-182008189.html
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6820934/2025/11/19/pope-leo-justin-ishbia-white-sox-invite/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/19/chicago-white-sox-justin-ishbia-pope-leo-xiv/
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