Pope Leo XIV just reacted to the Chicago White Sox clinching a spot in the 2026 postseason, and honestly, you won’t believe the journey this team has been on. When reporters grilled him on Friday, asking if he had anything to do with their “miracle playoff appearance,” the Pope himself hit them with a classic “no comment.” But come on, you know he’s hyped. He still weighed in on the accomplishment, dropping a simple but loaded, “Great things happen in Chicago.” You can practically feel the pride in that one.
From 121 Losses to a Playoff Berth, Nobody Saw This Coming
Seriously, this isn’t just any fan we’re talking about. The 71-year-old Pope Leo XIV is a Chicago native and a noted White Sox fan, like, real-deal fandom. He was even spotted back in 2005 at Game 1 of their World Series matchup against the Houston Astros. That’s dedication! But what makes his reaction so wild isn’t just his holy office, it’s the sheer, unbelievable turnaround this White Sox club has pulled off. They officially punched their ticket to the playoffs with a dominant 9-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. Think about that for a second.
This isn’t some expected contender, folks. This is a team that lost over 100 games in three straight seasons from 2023 to 2025. Yeah, you read that right. Three consecutive seasons of triple-digit L’s. Their 2024 campaign was a historical disaster, with the White Sox suffering a mind-boggling 121 losses, setting an MLB single-season record. A new low that year, an all-time stinker. So when the Pope says “no comment” and then “great things happen in Chicago,” it’s not just a cute quote. It’s an acknowledgment of something truly special, a team that dragged itself out of the baseball abyss.
The AL Central Is Wide Open With the White Sox Rolling
Right now, the White Sox are holding down the final American League Wild Card spot, which is a massive achievement considering where they were. But here’s the kicker: they’re not settling for just a Wild Card. This surging club sits just one game back from the Cleveland Guardians for the AL Central lead. One game! In late September, after the garbage fire of the past three years, they’re legitimately in a division race.
What a time to be a White Sox fan. With a division title still very much within reach, every single game matters right now. That one-game deficit against Cleveland makes their next matchup absolutely massive, a true make-or-break moment to see if they can snatch that division crown. Talk about high stakes for a team that literally just set an MLB record for futility two seasons ago. You gotta love baseball sometimes, right?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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