Did Pope Leo’s Divine Intervention Help His Beleaguered White Sox Pull Off Baseball’s Greatest Miracle?

For years, watching the Chicago White Sox play bad baseball was a penance that tested the faith of the most devout sports fan on the South Side. But on Thursday night at Kansas City, the universe — or perhaps a higher authority — decided they had suffered enough.With a resounding 9-1 beatdown of the Royals, the once downtrodden White Sox became the first team in major league history to follow consecutive 100-loss seasons with a playoff berth, and many supporters of the beleaguered franchise are giving credit to the team’s most famous fan: Pope Leo XIV.When reporters playfully asked during a flight if he deserved credit for the White Sox’s unexpected turnaround, Pope Leo smiled and nodded his head in good humor. “No comment,” he said.Then he smiled again, appearing to dwell in self-satisfaction — “but great things happen in Chicago.”That might be the understatement of the century. The once hapless White Sox improved to 82-77 in the season by beating the Royals and became the first team in MLB history to reach the post-season following three consecutive 100-loss seasons. No team had ever reached the post-season following two consecutive 100-loss seasons, much less three.The pontiff’s allegiance to his hometown White Sox has been well documented since he ascended to the papacy on May 8, 2025. Long before he was wearing papal robes, the Chicago native, formerly known as Robert Francise Prevost, grew up in south suburban Dolton, and frequently attended White Sox games with his brother John Prevost, when they were young.Today, a mural of the Pope guards the entrance to the section at Rate Field where he sat for the 2005 World Series alongside a framed White Sox No.14 jersey with Pope Leo stitched across the back. The team also held “Pope Leo Night” in August 2025, offering fans pope-themed hats during a game against the Cincinnati Reds.Whether it is divine intervention or the most cosmic coincidence in sports history, good marketing has turned into a growing belief in miracles. Picked to finish last in their division, the White Sox have overcome unprecedented odds, going from baseball’s basement to having a shot at the World Series by clinching no worse than one of three American League wild-card spots.Many are grateful for whatever power the Pope provided.“I have no proof, but Pope Leo made this happen,” one fan posted on X.Another added: “Thank you, Pope Leo! The White Sox are back!”Even Chicago sports journalist Sean Fitzgerald said: “I wish I could say this jokingly but if there is one, potential mystical force I could believe in here, it would be “Pope Magic.”Calling the White Sox season a miracle isn’t exactly a stretch. Two years ago, the team lost 121 games, setting a post-1900 record for futility. The White Sox appeared doomed to another dreadful season in April when they started 6-13. But the youngsters they had hoped would develop into impact players began to produce.Munetaka Murakami, who signed a two-year $34 million contract in December blasted 33 home runs as of Thursday, joining Miguel Vargas, an MVP candidate, who also belted 33 homers, while driving in 92 runs. Colson Montgomery added 31 homers and 87 runs batted in.A few eyebrows were raised when the White Sox traded left-hand ace Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox in December. But three players acquired in the deal — Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth, and Braden Montgomery — all played impact roles in the White Sox clinching their 12th overall postseason appearance.“W’s are all that matters,” Mr. Montgomery said. “Whatever, I can do to help the team, that’s all I care about.”The White Sox still have an outside chance to win the AL Central, a notion that didn’t seem fathomable when the season began. It would give them a chance to match their champagne-spilling celebration on Thursday night.“This means a lot for us,” Miguel Vargas said. “We’ve been chasing this moment for a long time. It’s special for us. It’s special for the whole organization. This is a special group of guys.”While their exact playoff opponent remains uncertain, one thing is certain, tickets will be in high demand. But if a guy in a white robe and red shoes asks for a seat, the team will probably find room for the power of the Pope.

Did Pope Leo’s Divine Intervention Help His Beleaguered White Sox Pull Off Baseball’s Greatest Miracle?

Did Pope Leo’s Divine Intervention Help His Beleaguered White Sox Pull Off Baseball’s Greatest Miracle?

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