Pope Leo XIV has weighed in on the MLB postseason—with a blessing for the Chicago White Sox. In a letter sent to team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf ahead of Tuesday's wild-card opener in Houston, the Chicago-born pontiff praised sports as a "school of life, where all can learn that abundance does not come from victory at any cost, but from sharing, from respecting others and from the joy of walking together," ESPN reports.
- "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," Leo wrote. "With these sentiments, I willingly invoke the Almighty's abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones."
- The White Sox went on to beat the Astros 6-3 on Tuesday, the AP reports. It was their first playoff win since Oct. 10, 2021.
The note, dated Sept. 9, was prompted by an August promotion that handed out papal miter-style hats with a White Sox logo; a South Side priest delivered one to the pope. A longtime Sox fan, Leo attended Game 1 of the World Series in 2005, almost 20 years before he became the first American pope. More recently, he broke Vatican protocol by wearing a team cap. Last fall, after someone in St. Peter's Square shouted, "Go Cubs," Leo replied, "They lost!" The White Sox earned an American League wild card spot this year with an 84-78 record. They lost at least 101 games in each of the the previous three seasons. The AP reports that when asked recently if he was responsible for the turnaround, Leo quipped, "No comment."
- This story has been updated with the game's result.
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