Considering how their Wild Card series ended, it appears that the Chicago White Sox truly are #blessed.
The team clinched their playoff series Sept. 30 against the Houston Astros after a two-game sweep at Daikin Park in Texas. But as many fans have joked, the historic victory β their first postseason series win in more than two decades β may have been in part due to a bit of divine intervention. It turns out that well-known White Sox fan Pope Leo XIV sent the team a special letter ahead of the high-stakes games.
βI willingly invoke the Almightyβs abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones,β the Pope wrote in the signed letter to White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf that arrived Sept. 29, according to the teamβs social media accounts.
The American League Wild Card series win marks the White Soxβ first postseason series victory since they won the World Series in 2005. That championship was coincidentally also against the Astros. And oddly enough, Pope Leo was in the stands for the series opener, rooting his Sox on from Section 140, Row 19, Seat 2.
This time around, the White Sox beat their Texas opponents in just two games for the best-of-three series. The mail that arrived from the Pope, which was dated Sept. 9, referenced a letter that he wrote ahead of the Winter Olympic Games in February.
βAs I have noted, βsport can truly become 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,ββ he wrote, citing the February letter.
The pope added that it is his βhope 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.β
Pope Leoβs love of the White Sox is well-documented. In June 2025, he repped his team, stepping out in a Sox cap while meeting newlywed couples at the Vatican.
The South Side team has been more than happy to embrace their famous fan. Earlier in the season, the team gave away White Sox-themed papal miters to fans who attended the teamβs Aug. 11 game against the Cincinnati Reds. Weeks later, South Side native Father Tom McCarthy presented the pope with one of the hats as well.
The Chicago White Sox will move on to the American League Division Series, where they will take on the Cleveland Guardians starting Oct. 3.
