There was some historical past made outdoors of the sports activities world on Thursday. Following a two-day-long papal conclave, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the following pope, making him the primary American-born pope.
Prevost, who picked Pope Leo XIV to be his papal title, was born and raised in Chicago. He additionally attended Villanova College, graduating from there in 1977 with a level in arithmetic.
As particulars of Pope Leo XIV’s background emerged, many additionally puzzled the place his sports activities allegiances lie. Initially, it was reported that the new pope is a fan of the Chicago Cubs, which might’ve been a shock as he grew up on the South Aspect. Nevertheless, the pope’s brother, John Prevost, revealed that Pope Leo XIV is a Chicago White Sox fan.
“He was by no means, ever a Cubs fan, so I do not know the place that got here from. He was all the time a Sox fan,” John Prevost told WGN in Chicago. “Our mom was a Cubs fan, so possibly that clued in there, and our dad was a Cardinals fan. So, I do not know the place that each one got here from. Our mother’s household was from the North Aspect, in order that’s why they had been all Cubs followers.”
Past that, there aren’t many different particulars recognized about Pope Leo XIV’s ideas on Chicago sports activities. There is no public document of him weighing in on the Michael Jordan-LeBron James debate. He did not take to social media on Sundays this previous season to complain concerning the Chicago Bears struggling throughout Caleb Williams‘ rookie season. He may very well be a Connor Bedard fan, however it’s unclear if he follows the Chicago Blackhawks or not.
Pope Leo XIV does appear to be in tune with Villanova basketball. Following Villanova’s dramatic win over North Carolina within the 2016 nationwide championship sport, he re-tweeted a tweet mentioning that the Wildcats’ championship win that 12 months was the primary received by a Catholic faculty in males’s basketball since Villanova’s first title win in 1985.
Former Villanova coach Jay Wright congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his honor.
“A blessing for all Individuals, @osavocations @VillanovaU, most significantly the World!,” Wright wrote in a social media put up.
Villanova additionally despatched a celebratory message to Pope Leo XIV.
“Immediately, we joyously have fun the election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, a second of profound significance for the worldwide Church,” the college wrote in a press release. “A Villanova alumnus, Pope Leo XIV is the primary Pope from the USA and the primary Augustinian friar to be elected.”
Pope Leo XIV’s ties to Villanova led many sports activities followers to make the purpose that the college is using a excessive in the mean time. Former Villanova stars Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart have led the New York Knicks to a stunning 2-0 lead of their Jap Convention semifinals collection towards the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics. Donte DiVincenzo, who received two nationwide titles at Villanova, has additionally been a key piece for the Minnesota Timberwolves as they battle the Golden State Warriors within the Western Convention semifinals.
Movie director Spike Lee, arguably the world’s most well-known Knicks fan, believes that the election of Pope Leo XIV bodes effectively for the Knicks’ title probabilities.
“For My NEW YAWK KNICKS FANS His Alma Mater Is VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY (BRUNSON,HART And BRIDGES Received NCAA Rings At VILLANOVA)What A HOLY BLESSING. 🙏🏾THE KNICKERBOCKERS ARE G🏀-NNA WIN THE 2024-2025 NBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. IT IS DIVINITY.GOD BLESS.🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾And Dat’s Da H🏀LY TRUTH,” Lee wrote in an Instagram put up.
Others acquired in on the enjoyable with Thursday’s announcement. The NFL’s X (previously generally known as Twitter) account posted a screenshot from when the Arizona Cardinals had been on the clock within the 2025 NFL Draft, with the chyron studying “the choose is in” when the white smoke appeared from the Sistine Chapel.
FOX Sports activities’ Colin Cowherd additionally congratulated Pope Leo XIV throughout Thursday’s “The Herd.”
“Congratulations to the primary American pope, Robert Prevost. He is from Chicago and went to Villanova, so he is a tradition man, completely,” Cowherd stated. “How about that? Gotta converse Italian, not Latin.”
“Chicago’s simply successful the offseason,” co-host Jason McIntyre chimed in. “The pope in there, Ben Johnson, offensive line rebuild — they’ve simply gotta repair the Bulls.”
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