White Sox to Give Away Pope-Inspired Hats

The team honors their famous fan, Pope Leo XIV, with a special giveaway.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:04am

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An abstract, expressionist painting in neon colors depicting the iconic miter hat of Pope Leo XIV floating above a baseball field, capturing the excitement and energy of the sport.The White Sox's pope-themed hat giveaway celebrates the team's most famous and influential fan in a vibrant, energetic style.Chicago Today

The Chicago White Sox will be handing out limited-edition pope-themed hats to fans at their August 11th game against the Cincinnati Reds. The hats are shaped like the Pope's miter and feature the White Sox logo, honoring Pope Leo XIV, who was revealed to be a devoted White Sox fan last year after attending Game 1 of their 2005 World Series appearance.

Why it matters

The White Sox are capitalizing on the unexpected popularity of Pope Leo XIV's fandom, which generated significant buzz in the baseball world last year. This giveaway is a unique way for the team to connect with their loyal fanbase and attract new interest, while also honoring an influential public figure who has shown support for the franchise.

The details

The pope-themed hats will be part of a special ticket package offered by the White Sox for the August 11th game against the Reds. A limited number of the hats, designed to resemble the Pope's traditional miter headpiece with the White Sox logo prominently displayed, will be distributed to lucky fans. This comes after Pope Leo XIV, whose real name is Robert Prevost, was revealed to be a devoted White Sox supporter who attended Game 1 of their 2005 World Series appearance, breaking typical Vatican protocol by wearing a White Sox cap during a public appearance.

  • Pope Leo XIV was revealed as a White Sox fan in 2025.
  • The White Sox honored the 2005 World Series team in July 2026.
  • The pope-themed hat giveaway will take place on August 11, 2026.

The players

Pope Leo XIV

Also known as Robert Prevost, the current Pope who was revealed to be a devoted Chicago White Sox fan after attending Game 1 of their 2005 World Series appearance.

Paul Konerko

A star player and de facto captain of the White Sox's 2005 World Series team, who was presented with a special White Sox jersey signed by Pope Leo XIV during the team's 20th anniversary celebration last year.

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What they’re saying

“We must honor our most famous and influential fan in a way that captures the spirit of our team and our city.”

— Jerry Reinsdorf, Owner, Chicago White Sox

What’s next

The White Sox will be closely monitoring demand and interest in the pope-themed hat giveaway, as a successful promotion could lead to future collaborations with the Vatican or even the creation of a permanent 'Pope's Section' at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The takeaway

The White Sox's creative giveaway celebrating their unexpected high-profile fan, Pope Leo XIV, demonstrates the team's ability to capitalize on unique opportunities to engage their fanbase and generate positive publicity for the franchise.