The Chicago White Sox won their first Major League Baseball postseason series in 21 years after receiving a letter of blessing from Pope Leo XIV, according to The Christian Post. The Chicago-born pontiff, a longtime White Sox fan, encouraged the club to promote friendship, solidarity and peaceful cooperation.
The Christian Post reports that Chicago defeated the Houston Astros in two games to advance to the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. The team shared the pope’s letter on X during the opening stretch of the Wild Card Series, bringing its most prominent fan’s message into public view as the postseason began.
Born Robert Prevost, Leo XIV is the first American-born pope, according to the report. His letter connected his affection for his hometown team with a broader Christian message about respecting others and working together, rather than a prediction about the outcome on the field.
A blessing rooted in teamwork
The letter, dated Sept. 9, was addressed to White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. According to The Christian Post, the pope thanked Reinsdorf for a “kind letter” sent after the team’s Aug. 11 game, writing, “I am most grateful for this kind gesture.”
Leo then drew on his previous remarks about the value of athletics:
“As I have noted, ‘sport can truly become a school of life, where all can learn that victory does not come from abundance at any cost, but from sharing, from respecting others and from the joy of working together,’” he wrote.
The passage put the emphasis on how athletes and supporters treat one another. In the text reproduced by The Christian Post, the pope’s hopes for the franchise extended beyond winning games to the relationships a team can help build among people.
“In this spirit, it is my hope that the White Sox will continue to foster bonds of friendship and solidarity among people, and thus bear hopeful witness to the possibility of living and working together in peace.”
He closed with a personal blessing: “With these sentiments, I willingly invoke the Almighty’s blessings upon you and your loved ones.” Although the letter preceded the playoff victories, the quoted message did not promise a sporting triumph. Its stated focus was friendship, peace and the welfare of its recipients.
From Pope Night to the playoffs
The correspondence followed a public celebration of the pope’s Chicago ties. At the Aug. 11 game against the Cincinnati Reds, the White Sox distributed free pope hats to about 40,000 fans for Pope Night, The Christian Post reported.
Chicago lost that game, but the report described an enthusiastic crowd. Video footage showed a sportscaster standing beside a cutout of the pontiff, giving the ballpark celebration a visible reminder of the connection between the Catholic leader and his favorite club.
The postseason brought a different result. According to The Christian Post, the White Sox beat Houston 6-3 in the first game and 7-3 in the second, completing the best-of-three series without needing a deciding game.
The report identifies those victories as Chicago’s first postseason series win since its 2005 World Series championship. That earlier series victory also came against the Astros, who were then a National League team, and was clinched in the same ballpark, according to the account.
The Christian Post says the best-of-five division series against Cleveland begins Saturday. The winner will meet either the New York Yankees or the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League championship, with the league champion advancing to face the National League winner in the World Series. The report lists Oct. 23 as the start of the 2026 World Series.
A connection beyond the ballpark
The pope’s baseball allegiance has also featured in diplomatic outreach. The Christian Post cited a post from the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See announcing that White Sox owner Justin Ishbia and OutKick founder Clay Travis visited Rome last year to “discuss the role of sports diplomacy.”
An accompanying image showed U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch holding a White Sox jersey. The embassy post also said Ishbia invited Leo to throw out the opening pitch at a planned new White Sox stadium, according to the report. The account did not say the pope had accepted that invitation.
Source: christianpost.com
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