Pope Leo highlights solidarity, virtue in letter to Chicago White Sox

Pope Leo XIV advocated for sports as a means of solidarity and virtue, beyond the pursuit of victory, in a Sept. 9 letter to Chicago White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who shared it in an X post Sept. 29. 

In the letter, the Pontiff also thanked Reinsdorf for sending him one of the papal miter-inspired “pope hats” that attendees received at an Aug. 11 home game honoring the Pope’s Chicago heritage. 

“As I have noted, ‘sport 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,’” Pope Leo wrote, quoting his Feb. 2026 Letter Life in Abundance.

The Holy Father continued, expressing his confidence in the team’s continued pursuit of sportsmanship.

“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,” he wrote.

The exchange follows Pope Leo’s remarks during a homily on the role of sports. In that address, he said sports can foster values that are “at the very heart of God’s own life,” such as  cooperation, as Zeale News previously reported.

The Holy Father concluded his letter by invoking blessings on Reinsdorf.

“With these sentiments, I willingly invoke the Almighty's abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones,” he wrote.

Amid the White Sox’s push toward the postseason, Pope Leo also spoke with reporters about the team’s success remarking, “Great things happen in Chicago.”

When asked whether he had any divine influence on the team’s success, the Pope replied, “No comment.” The White Sox have since won their first playoff game since 2005.

Baseball has surfaced in other moments of Pope Leo’s papacy. The Pontiff signed baseballs during a Fourth of July visit to the residence of U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch “as a gesture of friendship in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.” Burch later presented them to President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as Zeale News previously reported.

Pope Leo has publicly expressed his support for the White Sox on numerous occasions, including in a historic June video address to young people gathered at the team’s stadium, encouraging them to remain open to the Lord’s love.