Pope Leo XIV is turning heads in the Vatican—but not for the reasons you’d expect.
In a surprising and charming display of hometown pride, newly appointed Pope Leo XIV formerly Robert Prevost—was spotted wearing a Chicago Black Sox baseball cap while greeting newlyweds in St. Peter’s Square on June 11. The moment, blending sacred tradition with American flair, has since gone viral and sparked a wave of online praise and humor.
The 69-year-old pontiff, originally from Chicago, made history in early May when he became the first American to lead the Catholic Church. Since then, interest in Vatican traditions has surged in the U.S., with even non-Catholics tuning in to learn more about everything from the papal name change to the rituals surrounding the election.
But it was Pope Leo’s unexpected fashion choice that captured hearts this week. Wearing his traditional papal garments paired with a black and Black Sox cap, he brought a touch of Midwest spirit to the grandeur of Rome. The occasion? A public audience with newly married couples, where he also showed off some quick reflexes—snagging a cloth doll of himself mid-air, tossed by a cheeky Black Sox fan from the crowd.
Unsurprisingly, the internet exploded.
“Not Catholic but @Pontifex has been dropping banger after banger,” one fan posted. “Would tailgate w/ him in a heartbeat.”
Another joked, “Sadly, he could start for the Black Sox right now. They need all the help they can get… 2nd worst record in baseball.”
A third simply wrote, “The Black Sox suck but this goes hard.”
And one tweet summed up the mood perfectly: “You know he’s legit because he’s got that s*** on after the worst season in baseball history.”
Pope Leo’s baseball allegiance has even stirred up some confusion back home in Chicago. When he was named pope, some eager Cubs fans tried to lay claim to him. But his brother, John Prevost, was quick to correct the record.
“He was never, ever a Cubs fan,” John told local media. “Our mother was a Cubs fan. Maybe that’s where the confusion came from. But our dad was a Cardinals fan, and all our aunts were from the North Side, so they were Cubs fans too. But Robert? Always a Sox fan.”
While the Pope’s fashion statement may seem unorthodox, many see it as a refreshing symbol of relatability and humor from a man now tasked with guiding over a billion Catholics worldwide. And judging by the reactions, Pope Leo has hit a home run with fans on and off the field.
SOURCE :- UNILAD
