Chicago – (AP) – There is a new landmark in the Haus der Chicago White Sox – Section 140, row 19, seat 2.
Here Father Bob – the future Pope Leo XIV – was sitting here for game 1 of the World Series 2005.
The White Sox presented a graphic installation on Monday that pays a tribute to the new Pope and at the moment during its last championship run. The column artwork shows a waving Pope Leo XIV, along with a picture from the TV broadcast of the future Pope, who sits with the good friend Ed Schmit and his grandson Eddie.
The team also plans to do something to commemorate the seat of tariffs that the Pope occupied during the World Series Opener 2005.
“When people come to the baseball stadium, it is an interesting piece of our story and you will want to see it,” said Brooks Boyer, Chief Executive and Marketing Officer of White Sox. “So we will be able to put something on this seat.”
Robert Prevost was the first Pope from the United States in the history of the Catholic Church when he was elected on May 8th. The missionary born in Chicago, who took the name Leo XIV, is a White Sox fan, according to his friends and family.
Prevost visited the World Series Opener with Schmit, a long-term season ticket holder who died in 2020. The White Sox defeated the Houston Astros on the way to a four-game swey for the title 5: 3.
Eddie Schmit, 25, who works in the family's day care business, described the future Pope as a great guy and kind -hearted.
“Much of it is about the White Sox. It should be more about what kind of man the Pope is,” said Schmit. “You look at some of the things he did with his missions, I mean, it is incredible. He was in places that are so poor just to help other people.”
Prevost and Schmit knew each other by working on a Catholic high school on the South Side of Chicago, and Schmit's son Nick remains the account holder for the Pope's World Series seat.
Ed Schmit said father Bob that he would be the next Pope, said Schmit's daughter Heidi Skokal.
“When my father was over, Father Bob said that he couldn't be there, but made sure he said to him and everything,” said an emotional scout. “And he said:” Father Bob, father Bob, I know that you will be the next Pope. Maybe I'm not here to see it. “And he says:” But I'll definitely look down. “And I'm sure he's today.”
The White Sox, who have fought in the field in recent years, and their fans have accepted their connection to the new Pope since his election. The team said it sent a jersey and a hat to the Vatican after the announcement.
Some fans dressed as a Pope for White Sox games and there are various T-shirts that celebrate the team's most famous fan.
“The Pope absolutely has an open invitation to come back,” said Boyer. “To sit in Section 140 to throw a first playing field. Heck, maybe we'll leave it a stain.”
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