Ex-White Sox pitcher has perfect response to Pope Leo XIV's fandom after ghastly 2024 season
Erick Fedde knows the pain the White Sox's now most famous fan must have gone through — maybe needing to ask for divine intervention.
The Cardinals pitcher, who played for the historically awful 41-121 White Sox last season, was asked about the fandom of Robert Francis Prevost, the newly minted Pope Leo XIV, after pitching a complete game shutout against his former team, the Nationals, on Friday night.
'Is he officially a White Sox fan?' Fedde asked when Leo was brought up by reporters after Friday's 10-0 win. 'Well, maybe he had to pray a few times watching us.'
5 Cardinals pitcher Erick Fedde (12) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
5 Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time on May 8, 2025.
AFP via Getty Images
The world learned of Leo's loyalties to Chicago's South Side team shortly after he was named the leader of the Catholic Church earlier this week.
His brother, John Prevost, shot down reports that the new Pontiff was a Cubs fan.
Video also surfaced Friday of Leo dressed in White Sox gear in the stands for Game 1 of the 2005 World Series against the Astros.
5 Pope Leo XIV World Series broadcast in 2005, wearing Chicago White Sox gear.
Major League Baseball
Chicago won that World Series in four games, but rooting for the White Sox hasn't always been easy – especially recently.
The team set the modern record for most losses in an MLB season last year with 121.
The club is off to an 11-28 start in 2025.
John Prevost told WGN-TV he wasn't sure how his brother — the first American-born pope — came to love the Sox.
5 A sign of Pope Leo is displayed on the day of a match between the Chicago White Sox and the Miami Marlins, at the Rate Field baseball stadium, in Chicago, Illinois on May 9, 2025.
REUTERS
5 Fedde during his time with the White Sox last year.
Getty Images
'He was never ever a Cubs fan, so I don't know where that came from,' Prevost said. 'He was always a Sox fan. Our mother was a Cubs fan. I don't know, maybe that clued in there and our dad was a Cardinals fan, so I don't know where all that came from.'
Fedde is off to a solid start to the season at 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.31 WHIP.
He was a bright spot for the White Sox last season, posting a 7-4 record and a 3.11 ERA before being traded to St. Louis in July
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