BEVERLY, Ill. – At a packed White Sox game earlier this month, the team honored their most famous fan, Pope Leo XIV, by handing out 40,000 “pope hats” to fans at Guaranteed Rate Field. A few weeks later, Rev. Tom McCarthy, former provincial of the Midwest Augustinians, met the pontiff and presented a keepsake gift box from the club.
Special Gift for the Pope
The box contained a higher‑quality version of the fan‑distributed hat, complete with a sewn‑on White Sox logo patch, several of the original hats, a team jersey, a signed baseball card, and a personal letter from owner Jerry Reinsdorf. The design of the “pope hat” was inspired by the traditional Catholic mitre, linking the sport’s fan culture with the Church’s ceremonial attire.
Reaction and Reflections
According to McCarthy, the Pope smiled and remarked, “Too bad we didn’t win the game,” after the White Sox fell 5‑4 to the Cincinnati Reds. Despite the loss, the team remains atop the American League Central Division. McCarthy noted that Pope Leo follows the Sox from Vatican City, though the seven‑hour time difference limits how many live games he can watch.
During the ceremony, Sister Mary Jo Sobieck, a former Marian Catholic High School teacher, threw the first pitch. The Augustinians also received a $14,000 donation from the club, and the ballpark observed a traditional Catholic “Sign of Peace” during the fifth inning, led by Rev. Tom Hurley of Most Holy Redeemer Church.
Faith and Community Impact
McCarthy emphasized that Pope Leo’s visit was more than a novelty. “He has spoken about the power of sports to build community,” he said. “Since his election in May 2025, we’ve seen an increase in people returning to the Catholic faith, saying, ‘I’m going to give this another try.’” The Pope’s South Side roots run deep: born Robert Francis Prevost in Bronzeville, he grew up in Dolton, attended the Catholic Theological Union, and taught at local schools such as St. Rita in Ashburn.
Both McCarthy and the Pope share a history with the Midwest Augustinians; McCarthy once served as prior provincial in the 1990s, a role the Pope also held decades earlier. When asked about a future Chicago visit, McCarthy replied, “It’s a matter of when, not if.” He referenced Pope John Paul II’s 1979 Chicago trip as a model for future papal outreach.
Local Significance
The event underscores the unique blend of faith and sport that resonates with Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods. By honoring the Pope at a major league game, the White Sox highlighted the role of religious tradition in public life and offered a tangible reminder of how faith can unite families and communities around shared experiences.
For local Catholics, the Pope’s presence reinforced the message that the Church remains engaged with everyday American culture, from classrooms to ballparks. As the White Sox continue their season, the memory of the papal hat ceremony stands as a testament to the power of community, tradition, and faith working together.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
