White Sox Are Paying Homage to their Holiest Fan by Giving Away Limited-Edition Pope Hats at an Upcoming Game

White Sox Pope Hat; Pope Leo XIV
Credit: MLB; FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• The White Sox announced that they're paying tribute to one of their famous fans: Pope Leo XIV
• The team will be giving out White Sox-themed pope mitres
• The special edition hat will be available for a select few, and only for the Aug. 11 game against the Cincinnati Reds

Pope Leo XIV is receiving an unexpected tribute from his favorite baseball team.

The Chicago White Sox announced that, in celebration of the Pope's support, they will be giving away White Sox-themed pope hats to anyone who purchases the package for Aug. 11 tickets. The White Sox will face off with the Cincinnati Reds that day.

Those who receive the hat will sit in a "designated area" comprising five sections, according to the White Sox's website. The hat is a black-and-green mitre headdress worn by the Pope during Mass.

Pope Leo XIV wears a Chicago White Sox baseball team cap
Credit: Maria Grazia Picciarella/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty

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Since the conclave, Pope Leo has made headlines for becoming the first American pontiff, born and raised in Dolton, Ill., a Chicago suburb. Promptly after learning the Pope's origins, it was revealed that he's an avid White Sox fan, so much so that he attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series against the Houston Astros.

More recently, in late March, a White Sox fan was in Rome and, upon seeing the Pope, shouted, "God bless the White Sox," prompting Leo to give him a thumbs-up in agreement, CBS News reports. The 70-year-old has even been spotted sporting the merch.

Pope Leo XIV leads a mass for Palm Sunday
Credit: REMO CASILLI / POOL / AFP via Getty

In June 2025, Pope Leo was photographed wearing the team's hat during an appearance at his weekly general audience at the Vatican, according to MLB.com. At the time, the Pontiff donned the black Sox cap, which soon went viral. “Pope Leo XIV representing his favorite squad,” the team wrote alongside an Instagram post.

"I read something about that,” White Sox manager Will Venable said at the time. “Yeah, I mean, it's great. I love the support. Need it.”

The support is mutual. The team celebrated his 2005 appearance by painting a mural of him near the section where he sat for the event, the MLB previously reported.

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