White Sox Fan Pope Leo Gets Custom Cubs Jersey From IL Congressman

SCHAUMBURG, IL — U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi brought Chicago's baseball rivalry all the way to the Vatican last week, presenting noted White Sox fan Pope Leo XIV with a custom Cubs jersey.

The jersey reads "Da Pope" and bears No. 267, recognizing Leo as the 267th Bishop of Rome.

Krishnamoorthi, a lifelong Cubs fan, said the gift immediately prompted some South Side-North Side banter.

RELATED: Chicago Native Becomes 1st American Pope

"When I presented Pope Leo the jersey, he immediately reminded me that the White Sox had lost the night before, on Pope Leo Day at Rate Field," Krishnamoorthi said. "We shared a laugh, and I asked him to spread some of that love to the Cubs and give us a little blessing to help our chances at an all-Chicago World Series."

He added, "It was wonderful to see that even from the Vatican, the Pope still follows the Sox religiously."

Cubs, White Sox Meeting This Week

The timing of the exchange is especially fitting: the Cubs and White Sox are in the middle of the Wrigley Field portion of the 2026 Crosstown Series, which runs Monday through Wednesday.

So far, bragging rights on the North Side have belonged to the Cubs.

The Cubs won Monday’s opener 7-5 in 10 innings on Pete Crow-Armstrong’s walk-off home run. Crow-Armstrong homered twice in the game and also stole his 31st base of the season.

The Cubs followed that with another walk-off Tuesday night, beating the White Sox 4-3 on Alex Bregman’s ninth-inning single after he had also delivered the game-tying hit earlier.

The teams are scheduled to finish the three-game Wrigley series Wednesday at 1:20 p.m.

Krishnamoorthi Represents Northwest, Western Suburbs

Krishnamoorthi represents Illinois' 8th Congressional District, which covers Chicago's west and northwest suburbs and portions of Cook, DuPage and Kane counties. His district office is in Schaumburg, where he also lives.

The district includes communities in Patch's northwest suburban coverage area, with Krishnamoorthi’s office working on projects in places including Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates and the surrounding region.

Pope Leo's Chicago Roots

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, made history in May 2025 when he became the first American pope in the Catholic Church’s history.

Patch reported on Leo’s election at the time, including his Chicago roots and upbringing in Dolton.

Prevost was raised in Dolton before eventually spending much of his ministry in Peru. He was elected the 267th pontiff and took the name Leo XIV.

His White Sox allegiance has provided another distinctly Chicago element to his papacy — and gave Krishnamoorthi an opening for some friendly Cubs-Sox provocation at the Vatican.

For the Cubs fan, the meeting also provided an opportunity to make the most ambitious request possible: a little papal help toward an all-Chicago World Series.

For the moment, at least, the Cubs have had the upper hand in the more immediate Chicago baseball battle.