Pope Francis Sends Letter to Chicago White Sox Ahead of Playoff Game
The pontiff, a lifelong fan, wished the team well in their AL Wild Card Series matchup against the Houston Astros.
The Chicago White Sox received a personal letter from Pope Francis ahead of their playoff opener against the Houston Astros on Sept. 9. The letter was addressed to White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and arrived at Guaranteed Rate Field on Tuesday.
Pope Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio and grew up in Buenos Aires, is a known fan of the Chicago White Sox. He previously attended the World Series opener 21 years ago, when the White Sox defeated the Astros 5-3.
In his letter, the pontiff thanked Reinsdorf for a note sent after the team honored him during an August game against the Cincinnati Reds.
"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," Pope Francis wrote. "With these sentiments, I willingly invoke the Almighty's abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones."
The White Sox secured an American League wild card spot with an 84-78 record this season, marking an improvement after three consecutive seasons with at least 101 losses. When asked recently if he played a role in the team's turnaround, the Pope responded with a smile, "No comment."