Pope Leo XIV Sent Letter to Jerry Reinsdorf
The correspondence arrived at the ballpark before the White Sox's Wild Card Series opener.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Baseball
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Pope Leo XIV authored a personal letter to White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf on September 9, 2026. The message followed a communication sent by Reinsdorf after the team honored the pope at a game in August.
Why it matters
The correspondence highlights an unusual public connection between the Vatican and the Chicago baseball organization following the team's improved 2026 performance.
The Chicago White Sox finished the 2026 regular season with an 84-78 record, a significant improvement over the team's performance in the three previous years. The club also secured a 6-3 victory in the first game of their American League Wild Card Series.
The players
Pope Leo XIV
He is the leader of the Catholic Church who authored the letter while serving as the Bishop of Rome.
Jerry Reinsdorf
He serves as the chairman of the Chicago White Sox and initiated the communication with the Vatican.
Chicago White Sox
This Major League Baseball team plays in the American League and concluded its 2026 season with an 84-78 record.
The details
The letter reached Rate Field on September 8, 2026, just ahead of the Wild Card series. This exchange occurred after the White Sox honored Pope Leo XIV during a game against Cincinnati on August 11, 2026.
Timeline
August 11, 2026: The White Sox honored Pope Leo XIV during a game.
September 8, 2026: The pope's letter arrived at Rate Field.
September 9, 2026: The letter from Pope Leo XIV was officially dated.
Season Trajectory
This postseason appearance signals a stark departure from the franchise's recent history of triple-digit losses. By reaching the Wild Card Series, the team has fundamentally altered its competitive standing relative to the benchmarks set since the 2005 postseason meeting.
The White Sox's 6-3 victory in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series provided a positive start to their postseason run after a turnaround season. The team's 84-78 record effectively ended a three-year stretch where the franchise recorded at least 101 losses per season.
The takeaway
The correspondence between the Vatican and the team owner underscores the high-profile nature of the club's 2026 resurgence. Fans of the team have witnessed a rapid improvement in competitive results compared to the previous three seasons of record losses.
Further reading
Explore more developments on the team's performance in our Baseball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ZENIT.
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