Over the next few days, the life and background of the newly elected Pope will be heavily scrutinised, with friends and former acquaintances rushing to tell of their connection to Robert Prevost.
And perhaps one of the more unexpected images to emerge is that of the now pope attending an American football game.
Described in the Chicago Sun Times as a “die-hard Sox fan”, Pope Leo XIV has been pictured at a 2005 World Series Game.
The team seem to be enjoying their new link to the papacy, telling WGN9 News: “Some things are bigger than baseball, but in this case, we’re glad to have a White Sox fan represented at the Vatican.
“A pinstripe White Sox jersey with his name on it and a hat is already on the way to Rome, and of course, the pontiff always is welcome at his ballpark.”
‘Father Bob, you’re going to be next pope’
Heidi Skokal, whose father Ed Schmidt was close friends with Prevost, says the pair often attended games together and were there to witness the team’s 2005 championship run.
“He’s always been there for our whole entire family and was very, very close to my dad,” Skokal said.
“And my dad told him all the time, ‘Father Bob, you’re going to be the next pope.'”
Her dad died in 2020, but Skokal said he would be pleased to see his friend elected.
In the 1980s, the now Pope Leo XIV was a substitute and summer school teacher at St. Rita of Cascia High School in Ashburn.
When the news broke, it was played across the school’s intercom.
Skokal’s son, Vince (who attends the school), said: “We just started cheering.
“It was a very cool, unreal moment … I sat there stunned. And then I went straight to talk to [school chaplain] Brother Joe and once he saw me, we just started crying.”
Discover more from MEZIESBLOG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.