The Great Read: A Pope From Chicago Was Elected. The White Sox Were Resurrected.
The elevation of Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native and lifelong supporter of the Sox, was a godsend for a team failing on the field and with fans.
The New York Times
The Great Read
August 7, 2026, 2:01 p.m. Eastern time

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A mural of Pope Leo XIV smiling and waving is painted on a wall leading to a baseball field.

Jamie Kelter Davis for The New York Times

A Pope From Chicago Was Elected. The White Sox Were Resurrected.

The elevation of Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native and lifelong supporter of the Sox, was a godsend for a team failing on the field and with fans.

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