Overview
- Rev. Tom McCarthy presented Pope Leo XIV with a White Sox gift box at the Vatican on Thursday that included an upgraded team-branded mitre, several giveaway hats, a jersey, a signed baseball card and a letter from owner Jerry Reinsdorf.
- The mitre traces back to the White Sox’s Aug. 11 ‘Pope Hat’ giveaway at Rate Field when roughly 40,000 team-branded mitres were distributed and the club made a $14,000 donation to the Midwest Augustinians.
- The White Sox publicly posted a photo of the pope holding the hat and a social post saying the ‘White Sox Pope Hat has officially landed at the Vatican,’ a message that quickly went viral on social platforms.
- Pope Leo XIV is a Chicago native and long‑time White Sox fan, but liturgical norms and the personal symbolism of papal vestments make it unlikely he would use a team-branded mitre in official ceremonies.
- The exchange highlights organized coordination between the team and local clergy, deepened public attention to the club during its late‑season run, and could boost community outreach and fundraising for local Catholic groups.