Pope Leo XIV reacts with humor after the White Sox clinch a 2026 MLB playoff spot

Pope Leo XIV reacted with laughter after the Chicago White Sox clinched a 2026 MLB playoff spot. Asked by reporters whether he had influenced this unusual turnaround, the Pope answered “no comment,” but still closed his intervention by saying that big things happen in Chicago. The 71-year-old, born in Chicago and a known White Sox fan, was previously seen at Game 1 of the World Series against the Houston Astros in 2005.

As Bleacher Report reports, the White Sox secured the playoff spot with a 9-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. The team’s comeback becomes even more impressive considering the club had lost more than 100 games for three consecutive seasons (2023–25), including the 2024 season with 121 losses, which constitutes an MLB seasonal record. Currently, Chicago holds the last Wild Card spot in the American League and is only one game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the lead of the American League Central Division.

According to Bleacher Report, this qualification shows the club’s rapid turnaround after the difficult losing period and puts the White Sox in a competitive position for the division title and playoff spots.