Yesterday, Rita and I went to the Royals afternoon game at Kauffman Stadium. We took the route that goes by LC’s Bar-B-Q, and I captured this view of LC’s.
I thought it was cool they were joining the white smoke announcement of the selection of a new pope.
We did not yet know the identity of the new pope, but at the entrance gate at the K, we saw our friends Kristi Wyatt and Jo Ellen Smith who gave us the news that the new pope was from Chicago.
We then joined our friends Randy and Beth Nay to watch the game on a beautiful sunny day (thanks to Steve for the tickets).
The Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 10-0.
But there may be better days ahead for the White Sox because…
The Pope is a White Sox Fan: Although there was some early chatter about Pope Leo XIV being a Cubs fan, his family and the Vatican have confirmed he is a White Sox fan. Click here.
My Catholic friend Paul Donnelly suggested the 10-28 White Sox could use a papal blessing, or maybe more realistically, last rites.
An article in the Chicago Sun-Times confirmed the White Sox connection and included this photo of Rev. Robert Prevost (standing, left) at the 2005 World Series when the Sox swept the Astros.
Social media is having a (baseball) field day.
And this release from the White Sox, referencing Pope Leo growing up in the South Side neighborhood of Chicago (the Cubs play at Wrigley Field on the North Side):
“Family always knows best, and it sounds like Pope Leo XIV’s lifelong fandom falls a little closer to 35th and Shields. Some things are bigger than baseball, and in this case, we’re glad to have a White Sox fan represented at the Vatican. A pinstripes White Sox jersey with his name on it and a hat already are on the way to Rome, and of course, the Pontiff always is welcome at his ballpark.”
Note the pinstripes jersey in the 2005 photo…
And now twenty years later…
Pope Francis was greatly admired for his commitment to social justice. Based on the personal history of the new pope, including decades of working with the poor in Peru, Pope Leo XIV is expected to likewise champion social justice as a top priority of the Vatican. Amen to that.
Go Pope Leo XIV!
Walk-Off Info: The Royals open a series at the K tonight against the other “Sox” team, the Red Sox from Boston.
