ROME (AP) — A Cubs hat nearly crossed the threshold of the Vatican on Thursday, but Pope Leo XIV — a White Sox loyalist — made clear he was already covered.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Cubs fan, carried gifts from both crosstown rivals to a private audience with the pontiff, who hails from the Windy City. When Johnson handed over a Cubs cap, the pope “made it very clear that he was already wearing one,” Johnson said afterward, gesturing to his white zucchetto, the skull cap worn by popes.
The exchange set a lighthearted tone for a meeting in which Johnson formally invited Leo to visit his hometown next year. The pope said he wanted to come to Chicago in 2027, Johnson told reporters, though it remained uncertain whether a trip to the United States could be arranged this year.
Johnson described the pope’s remarks as warmly diplomatic. “When we sat down before we took the group picture, he said he was grateful that we’re all coming together uniting, you know Cubs fans, Sox fans,” Johnson recalled.
Leo XIV, born in Chicago, has maintained ties to his American roots even as he focuses on pastoral and diplomatic duties. Johnson’s invitation marks another chapter in the relationship between the Vatican and the city that produced the pope.