White Sox pope hat rightfully makes its way to the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV wasn’t in attendance on Aug. 11, when his treasured Chicago White Sox celebrated home runs against the Cincinnati Reds in his honor, wearing the same team-customized mitre hats that thousands of fans donned at Rate Field that day.

But now Pope Leo can finally match.

The game giveaway — which famously featured White Sox logos on the colloquially known “pope hat,” complete with ornate gold and white embroidery as well as lappets on the back — is now at the Vatican, where Father Tom McCarthy delivered the iconic headdress.

The White Sox Pope Hat has officially landed at the Vatican 🤝 pic.twitter.com/vcWoF9lzg9

McCarthy, according to MLB.com, is a Chicago native who graduated from St. Rita of Cascia High School. He was at the aforementioned White Sox-Reds game earlier this month. Back then, McCarthy was on hand to accept a check from Chicago White Sox Charities that was made out to Midwest Augustinian Province in honor of Pope Leo, who belonged to that order in Chicago while known as Robert Francis Prevost.

A bit more than two weeks later, a photo of McCarthy and Pope Leo is making the rounds on social media. They’re standing together while Pope Leo proudly holds his new garb. Primarily black in color, it contrasts the white mitre he’s often associated with.

Although the White Sox ultimately lost to the Reds in 10 innings on “Pope Hat” night, the spectacle was indelible. The band Chitown Popes performed pregame. Sister Mary Jo Sobieck of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield threw the ceremonial first pitch. And “peace be with you” handshakes were exchanged.

The innovative promotional event was embraced by White Sox fans, who have reveled in their team’s upstart 2026 campaign. They’re currently 70-63 and hold a 2.5-game lead in the AL Central.

Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff, is supporting his team from afar. He spent years cheering them on up close, including during Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. Earlier this summer, former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski gave him the baseball from the final out of that game.