Chicago's Pope Leo XIV: Will he bless the Cubs or cheer for the White Sox?

White smoke has risen from the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, signaling the election of Pope Leo XIV as the successor to Pope Francis, a development that has sparked curiosity in the sports world about his athletic allegiances due to his Chicago-area roots.

Against this backdrop, one question has become unavoidable and a topic of conversation, though it's not typically the first question asked when a new pope is chosen.

Is the Pope a Fan of the Chicago Cubs or the White Sox?

Robert Prevost was elected, becoming the first pope born in the United States in history. He grew up in Dolton, Illinois, a suburb located south of Chicago near the Indiana border. For his role as the Catholic leader, he chose the name Leo XIV.

Thus came the million-dollar question, and while many claimed he was a Chicago Cubs fan, his brother, John Prevost, stepped in to set the record straight.

"He was never, ever a Cubs fan," John said in an interview with WGN. "So I don't know where that came from. He was always a Sox fan."

John explained that their mother was a Cubs fan and their father ed the St. Louis Cardinals, so he's unsure where his brother's allegiance to the White Sox originated.

ABC had reported that the new pope was a Cubs fan, which caused significant confusion regarding his loyalty to one of Chicago's two teams.

In the end, the Cubs capitalized on the buzz, posting a marquee outside Wrigley Field.

However, after the pope's brother clarified that Leo XIV grew up as a White Sox fan, the South Side team responded with a subtle jab at their city rival.