On May 8, when White Smoke rose above the Sistine Church, marking the election of the first American-born pope, some Chicagoans not only celebrated the church’s milestones—they were busy with facts—to check his baseball allegiance.
The initial rumors suggest that Robert Prevost (known on the south side as “Father Bob” and now Pope King XIV) may be a fan of the Cubs. Contradictory photographic evidence has since surfaced: A screenshot of the current virus from the first game of the 2005 World Series shows the current White Sox gear, sitting with his longtime friend Ed Schmit, a lifelong sock and season ticket holder. Chicago Tribune.
The image was captured at the top of the ninth inning before Bobby Jenks finished with a 5-3 victory against the Astros. Leo, Schmitt and Schmitt’s son and grandson can be seen in the seats near Section 140. The White Sox will continue to scan the series.
Nearly 20 years later, that moment, and the unlikely pope cameo – immortalized with the new mural. The artwork is located on the third level line on the hall wall near verse 140, featuring Leo Pope Leo Xiv with hands raised gestures that can be prayer, blessing or just divine fanaticism. Above him: Screenshot of the 2005 Fox broadcast.
But the mural is both a nod from the 2005 event and a tribute to Ed Schmit, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2020. In his final months, Schmitt told Leo – and then still the Bishop of Peru – that he was sure that “father Bob” would one day become the pope. “I might not see it here, but I will definitely look down,” his daughter Heidi recalls.
Heidi is one of Schmitt’s multiple family members in the mural unveiling room, many of whom still have tickets for those seasons. “We have evidence,” said Ed Schmidt IV, who is loyal to Pope Baseball. “He played in the first World Series and now everyone knows it.”
From their perspective, the White Sox has embraced the highest pope in their hometown. Brooks Boyer, the team’s chief marketing officer, said the pope now has open invitations to return to the court without prior notice. “He has an open invitation to throw the first ball,” Boye told MLB.com. “Oh, maybe we’ll let him get the bat.”
