White Sox win first postseason series in 2 decades after pope sent a letter of blessing

The Chicago White Sox have won their first Major League Baseball postseason series in 21 years after receiving a letter of blessing from Pope Leo XIV.

In an X post Tuesday, the White Sox shared a letter they received from the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Born Robert Prevost, Leo XIV is the first American-born pope, a Chicago native and a well-known White Sox fan.

The letter, dated Sept. 9, was addressed to Jerry Reinsdorf, White Sox chairman. The pontiff thanked Reinsdorf for a “kind letter” he received after the team’s Aug. 11 game, adding, “I am most grateful for this kind gesture.”

Earlier today, a letter from Pope Leo XIV arrived at Rate Field. Go White Sox! pic.twitter.com/7qPKXPrDyz

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 29, 2026

At the Aug. 11 game against the Cincinnati Reds, the White Sox gave out free pope hats to about 40,000 fans as part of Pope Night. Although the White Sox lost to the Reds, enthusiasm was on full display. Video footage from the game shows a sportscaster standing next to a cutout of the pontiff.

“As I have noted, ‘sport can truly become a school of life, where all can learn that victory does not come from abundance at any cost, but from sharing, from respecting others and from the joy of working together,’” Leo XIV wrote in his letter to the White Sox.

“In this spirit, it is my hope that the White Sox will continue to foster bonds of friendship and solidarity among people, and thus bear hopeful witness to the possibility of living and working together in peace.”

The pontiff closed the letter by writing, “With these sentiments, I willingly invoke the Almighty’s blessings upon you and your loved ones.” The team shared the letter on the first night of the American League Wild Card Series between the White Sox and the Houston Astros.

The White Sox beat the Astros 6-3 in the first game of the series on Wednesday. They also won the second game of the 3-game series 7-3 on Thursday, sending the pontiff’s favorite team to the best-of-five American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. The series begins on Saturday. 

The winner will face either the New York Yankees or the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series. The American League champion will advance to the World Series to face the National League champion.

The 2026 World Series begins Oct. 23. The White Sox have not won a World Series since 2005. Their last playoff series victory came in the same ballpark during the 2005 World Series win over the Astros, which were then a National League team.  

Last year, the X account for the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See announced that White Sox owner Justin Ishbia and OutKick founder Clay Travis had visited Rome to “discuss the role of sports diplomacy.” An image with the post shows U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch holding a White Sox jersey. The post also noted that Ishbia “invited Pope Leo to throw out the opening pitch at a new planned White Sox stadium.”