Chicago White Sox honor super fan Pope Leo XIV with artwork at Rate Field

In his native Chicago, Robert Prevost would regularly attend White Sox home games at Rate Field. So it came as little surprise that his home state was ecstatic when he was appointed Pope Leo XIV - the first ever American to head the Catholic Church, at the Vatican earlier this month.

As were the White Sox - a team the pope has fervently followed all his life. Pope Leo XIV’s love of baseball has been well documented. His own brother affirmed that he is a White Sox fan, not a Cubs fan.

Pope Leo XIV at the MLB World Series

The franchise has paid tribute to Pope Leo XIV by unveiling a mural right by the seat where the pontiff watched Game 1 of the 2005 World Series against National League champions the Houston Astros on October 22, 2005.

Father Bob sat Seat 2 in Row 19 of Section 140, which is now commemorated with a mural on a pillar and a display case housing a No.14 White Sox shirt emblazoned with Pope Leo’s name along with a still from the TV broadcast of the future pope sitting in the stand with his friend Ed Schmit and grandson, Eddie.

Soon, the White Sox will be doing something special with Seat 2. “When people come into the ballpark, it’s an interesting piece of our history and they’re going to want to see it, so we’re going to be able to put something on that seat” CEO Brooks Boyer explained“.

Eddie Schmit’s son Nick holds the season ticket account for Seat 2 in Row 19 where the pope famously watched the World Series.

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