Pope Leo XIV teases Cubs fan in Vatican, nods to White Sox

Pope Leo XIV playfully taunted a heckler in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, responding in Spanish and English to a shouted "Go Cubs!" with "Han perdido!" and "They lost!" as he rode through the crowd in the Popemobile. The exchange came days after the Chicago Cubs were eliminated from the playoffs by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series.

Video released by the Vatican shows the pope smiling and waving after the shout and speaking to the crowd. His remark referred to the Cubs' recent postseason exit, which ended their run in the second round by a 3-1 series score against Milwaukee. The interaction drew visible amusement among bystanders and was widely circulated following the appearance.

The moment underscores the pontiff's well-known ties to Chicago and a long-standing public affinity for the Chicago White Sox. Born Robert Prevost and raised in Chicago, he has been openly associated with the South Side club for years. He attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series at what is now called Rate Field, and the White Sox organization has since acknowledged his connection with a graphic installation at the ballpark and the release of team-branded apparel bearing...