\n<\/p>\n
As he gets settled into his news digs at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV<\/b> looks like he\u2019d still fit right in with a brat in hand in the left field bleachers at Sox Park.<\/p>\n
The Dolton native and confirmed Sox fan formerly known as Robert Prevost<\/b> couldn\u2019t help but get caught up in a White Sox chant earlier this week as he rode through Vatican City in the popemobile.<\/p>\n
On a 15-second clip originally posted to TikTok Wednesday by user jacobusch.clan<\/a>, a crew of overseas fans start a \u201cWhite Sox! White Sox!\u201d chant and try to coax Leo into it as he smiles and waves his way through a crowd of supporters.<\/p>\n The new pontiff\u2019s stately demeanor gives way to a South Side celebration for just a few seconds as he picks up on their refrain, waving in rhythm and throwing in a few chants of his own.<\/p>\n It\u2019s just the latest proof of his true Chicago baseball loyalty<\/a>, which was falsely claimed out of the gate by the Cubs after white smoke heralded Leo\u2019s election as pontiff on May 8.<\/p>\n His brother, John Prevost<\/b>, swiftly corrected the record, and broadcast footage soon emerged of the future pope in the stands at Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. And last week, Leo donned a Sox hat<\/a> that was gifted to him by a follower in St. Peter\u2019s Square<\/p>\n The White Sox\u2019 most famous fan hasn\u2019t talked publicly about his fandom beyond his symbolic support \u2014 or offered his thoughts on the rebuild \u2014 but it\u2019s a trip for the players he\u2019s watching.<\/p>\n \u201cI had friends blowing up my phone with that video,\u201d starter Davis Martin<\/b> said before Thursday\u2019s doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals. \u201cThey\u2019re like, \u2018You live in a world where the pope could know about Davis Martin\u2019s kick-change,\u2019 and I started dying laughing. It\u2019s truly a crazy thought.\u201d<\/p>\n But maybe not that crazy for a fan who was able to get his hands on World Series tickets.<\/p>\n \u201cThose aren\u2019t cheap, so I\u2019m sure he\u2019s pretty locked in on the White Sox,\u201d Martin said.<\/p>\n Last month, the team unveiled a mural of the pope near his World Series seats<\/a> in Section 140, and some 30,000 of the South Side faithful celebrated Mass<\/a> last weekend at Rate Field in an event that featured a video address from Leo. <\/p>\n Divine intervention hasn\u2019t done all that much to improve the Sox\u2019 performance on the field. Since Leo\u2019s introduction to the world, the team has gone 13-22, a marginal improvement from a brutal first month of the season.<\/p>\n The White Sox claimed journeyman infielder Vinny Capra<\/b> off waivers last month to provide some depth as a utility man, but he has unexpectedly found himself bailing out the pitching staff, too.<\/p>\n Manager Will Venable called in Capra for mop-up duty in Tuesday\u2019s 12-2 blowout loss, when he served up a two-run homer to Cards outfielder Victor Scott II<\/b>.<\/p>\n That ballooned Capra\u2019s ERA to 9.00 after a clean inning in the Tigers\u2019 13-1 drubbing of the Sox earlier this month, his first-ever relief appearance in the pros.<\/p>\n Capra \u2014 already just the fifth position player in Sox history with multiple pitching appearances in a season \u2014 hasn\u2019t been on the bump regularly since Little League.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it\u2019s best to keep it that way,\u201d he joked. \u201cNever a fun day for the team if you see me going out there.\u201d<\/p>\n Veteran Adrian Houser, who has impressed with a 2.15 ERA in five starts since the Sox picked up the free agent last month, was placed on the paternity list. He\u2019s expected to return to start Sunday at Toronto.<\/p>\n The Sox called up Owen White as the 27th man for the doubleheader. <\/p>\n<\/div>\nVinny on the mound<\/h3>\n
Coming and going<\/h3>\n