Here comes “Da Pope.”
Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was named Thursday as the first ever American pope – and folks in the Windy City are having a blast over it.
“From now on, all communion wafers shall be deep dish,” one commenter quipped on X.
Chicago sports fans wasted no time jumping on the bandwagon.
Robert Prevost, the boy from Chicago who would later become pope, at school in Chicago. via St. Mary of the Assumption School“Need to know if he’ll be a Cubs Pope or a White Sox pope,” another X user said, while yet another offered an addition to the beleaguered White Sox stadium fare.
“In honor of Chicago’s own Pope Leo XIV, the White Sox announce the new “White Smoke Shake” that will be served in a commemorative pope hat.”
Chicago-based Marquee Sports Network claimed the pope’s baseball preference was already a matter of record.
“When it was announced Pope Leo XIV was from Chicago, many Chicagoans and Americans were surely wondering if he was a supporter of the North Side or South Side,” the outlet said.
Some are wondering about Prevost’s preferred Chicago sports team. Midwest Augustinians“With Pope Leo XIV supporting the Cubbies, there are certainly big dreams about what that could mean for the Cubs’ future successes.”
Even diehard Cubs fans had a field day with the news.
“He needs to talk to God about a 3rd baseman and the bullpen,” one commented on X.
Everyone has jokes about America’s first-ever pope. Midwest AugustiniansAnother fan joked, “Sources tell me that due to MLB’s blackout policy, he’ll be unable to watch games on the Marquee Sports App from the Vatican.”
Whether or not Leo leans Cubs, the team itself wasted no time flaunting their ties to the Vatican — they posted a pic celebrating the pope’s allegiance outside Wrigley Field.
Prevost was picked to replace Pope Francis after two days of deliberations at the Vatican, with his Second City roots quickly drawing attention.
Obvious Shirts displaying sports-themed Pope Leo XIV shirts on their website. @ObviousshirtsHe took the name Pope Leo XIV.
“Everything dope, including the pope, comes from Chicago,” city Mayor Brandon Johnson said, according to The Hill.
“Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV,” he said.
“We hope to welcome you back home soon.”
Follow the latest on the election of Pope Leo XIV:
- Who is Robert Prevost? Meet Leo XIV, the first American pope
- Cardinal Robert Prevost elected first American-born pope, takes name Pope Leo XIV
- First American pope is from Chicago, and everybody has jokes about it: ‘All communion wafers will be deep-dish’
- Here’s why American-born Cardinal Robert Prevost might have selected Pope Leo XIV as his papal name
Social media comments also included shots at the Chicago Bears football team – “Chicago produced a pope before a QB who throws for 4,000 yards” – to the town’s famed beverage, the hometown Swedish schnapps, Malort.
“Considering Leo XIV was born and raised in Chicago, is it possible that he might be the first pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church to have consumed malort?” one social media wiseguy wrote.
Not overlooked by online posters was Chicago’s rep for organized crime and political corruption.
“Congrats to Cardinal Prevost,” one X user said. “Who has the very real chance to be the first elected official from Illinois not to end his term in office by beginning a jail term.”
