Pope Leo hilariously trolls the Chicago Cubs after being heckled by fan at the Vatican

Pope Leo XIV may be the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, but he's not above taking a swipe at Chicago's North Side when the opportunity arises.

Greeting throngs of pilgrims, tourists, and local admirers from his Popemobile, Pope Leo heard a faint cry of 'Go Cubs' as he rode through St. Peter's Square on Wednesday in Vatican City.

Pope Leo couldn't help but chuckle, given his South Side roots and avowed loyalty to the Chicago White Sox, not to mention the Cubs' recent playoff loss to the rival Milwaukee Brewers.

'Han perdido!' Pope Leo said before repeating his Spanish statement in English: 'They lost!'

Of course, the Cubs did make the playoffs in 2025, while their counterparts on the South Side managed just 60 wins following a historically bad 41-121 campaign in 2024.

Then again, both franchises are coming off a rough century. The White Sox' recent title drought lasted from 1917 to 2005 while the Cubs' 2016 World Series crown was their first since 1908, when the Vatican was still sending missions to an up-and-coming United States.

But for all of their struggles, recent and historic, White Sox fans have been thrilled to see one of their own emerge as a world leader.

'We need more of his intervention for the next years to come,' one South Sider wrote on X. 'Go Sox!'

'First Pope to be aware of Brice Turang,' another added, referring to the Brewers' starting second baseman.

One fan simply wrote they are 'so happy to have this man be our pope.'

A few angry Cubs fans chimed in, pointing out that the North Siders won 92 games in 2025, while the White Sox won just 101 games over the last two seasons combined.

Pope Leo's fandom has been a rare bright spot for the South Siders, who recently unveiled a tribute to the man born Robert Francis Prevost in 1955 as the White Sox were on their way to a third-place finish.

Now, in section 140, Row 19, and Seat 2 at Rate Field on Chicago's South Side, fans can find a graphic installation marking Pope Leo's seat for Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. Chicago would go on to win its first MLB crown since 1917 that year.

Footage from the game — Chicago's 5-3 win over the visiting NL-champion Houston Astros — shows a younger Pope Leo in the crowd during his time as prior for the Order of Saint Augustine.

There had been some erroneous reporting after he was named Pope that he was actually a Cubs fan, but his brother John Prevost has since put that myth to rest.

'He was never ever a Cubs fan, so I don't know where that came from,' Prevost told Chicago's WGN TV. 'He was always a Sox fan. Our mother was a Cubs fan. I don't know, maybe that clued in there and our dad was a Cardinals fan, so I don't know where all that came from.

'And all the aunts, our mom's family was from the north side, so that's why they were Cubs fans.'

Pope Leo has leaned into his public displays of affection for the White Sox ever since. In June, while blessing a newly married couple at the Vatican, Pope Leo was handed a White Sox hat, which he quickly placed over his zucchetto. 

He's also been seen leading 'let's go White Sox' chants at St. Peter's Square.