A Chicago baseball game turned into a celebration of Pope Leo XIV on Aug. 11, as more than 38,000 White Sox fans filled Rate Field for a pope-themed night. The event brought together baseball and Catholic traditions, honoring the pope’s well-known loyalty to his hometown team while giving fans a chance to celebrate his Chicago roots.

The White Sox originally planned to give away custom black-and-gold mitre-style hats to the first 2,500 ticket buyers. Those tickets sold quickly, followed by another 500. Because demand continued, team management expanded the giveaway to the full stadium capacity.

White Sox Executive Vice President Brooks Boyer said the team’s main concern was whether enough people would attend. “The only anxiety was: Can we get 40,000 here by the time of this day?” Boyer said in a story published on the team’s website.

He added that the organization could not recall another promotion that had required expanding its target to 40,000 attendees. The crowd ultimately pushed the event close to that level, with more than 38,000 fans attending.

Die-hard Sox fan Richard King, who watched the game on television, described the scene simply: “The place was capacity.”

Catholic Traditions Take the Field

Instagram | thegnewsroom | The White Sox honored Pope Leo XIV’s Chicago roots with a packed house and a massive mitre-hat giveaway.

The evening featured several Catholic traditions during the game. Dominican Sister Mary Jo Sobieck of Springfield, Illinois, threw the first pitch.

During the fifth inning, Chicago Archdiocese priest Father Tom Hurley led fans in the “sign of peace.” It brought a familiar Catholic tradition to the baseball field.

King, 78, grew up on Chicago’s South Side. He has followed the White Sox since he was seven. He attends Mass daily and belongs to the Knights of Columbus. King called the open display of Catholic faith at the ballpark “great!”

He also said the event could spark interest in the Catholic faith. Some fans may become curious about Catholic traditions after seeing them at a baseball game.

White Sox manager Will Venable also welcomed the celebration. “Any time we get to celebrate the pope and his fandom of the White Sox is something that we’ll lean into,” Venable said.

Pope Leo’s Chicago Baseball Connection

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, grew up in Dolton, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, and has long been associated with the White Sox. Images of him wearing a White Sox cap at the Vatican have circulated widely, while fans have given him several Sox-themed gifts since his election as pope in May 2025.

His baseball connection has added a personal dimension to his public image. Video from 2005 shows then-Father Bob Prevost attending Game 1 of the White Sox World Series matchup against the Houston Astros. Chicago went on to sweep Houston 4-0 and ended an 88-year championship drought.

The ballpark has continued to recognize that history. A mural of Pope Leo was installed near the entrance to the section where he sat during the 2005 World Series, while markers identify the seat associated with his visit.

A Ballpark With a Papal Link

Instagram | thegnewsroom | Pope Leo Night united Chicago through a unique blend of faith, baseball, and community giving.

One month after the 2025 conclave, Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich led a thanksgiving Mass for Pope Leo’s election at Rate Field.

The pope has also discussed the possibility of throwing out a first pitch at a future White Sox stadium. A major White Sox shareholder told media outlets that Pope Leo said he would “love to” do it, depending on his schedule.

The Aug. 11 event also included a charitable contribution. Chicago White Sox Charities donated $14,000 to the Augustinians, Pope Leo’s religious order. Father Tom McCarthy and Brother David Relstab, the prior provincial and vocations director of the Augustinians’ Midwest province, accepted the donation on the field.

The Game Ends With a Sox Loss

The celebration continued into extra innings, but the result did not favor Chicago. The Cincinnati Reds rallied in the 10th inning to defeat the White Sox 5-4, taking the lead in the three-game series that concluded Aug. 13.

Despite the loss, the game drew attention well beyond the final score. Pope Leo’s connection to Chicago baseball gave the night a distinct local character, bringing a religious celebration into one of the city’s most familiar sports settings.

Pope Leo Night showed how a shared hometown connection can bring different parts of Chicago together. With more than 38,000 fans wearing pope-themed hats, Catholic traditions taking place between innings, and a $14,000 donation supporting the Augustinians, the event carried meaning beyond baseball.

The White Sox may have lost 5-4, but the packed evening highlighted Pope Leo XIV’s lasting connection to Chicago, the South Side and the team he has supported since long before becoming pope.