The new pope, who was born in Chicago, said that tennis is his favorite sport. Pope Leo XIV, born and raised in Chicago, has captured global attention for two reasons: his historic role as the first American-born pontiff and his unexpected sports fandom.

It's not exactly a secret that Chicago Bears jokes are told 365 days a year in Wisconsin. Even on the most holiest of dates on the calendar. And there's not even a dispensation from ridicule when a native Chicagoan is suddenly chosen to be the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Already, with the New York Knicks and their Villanova-built team riding high up 2-0 over the Boston Celtics in the second round, Knicks fans think Pope Leo XIV's Villanova ties are a good omen. Of course, Pope Leo is originally from Chicago, and we had clarity about him actually being a Chicago White Sox fan, which tracks.

Pope Leo XIV, unveiled to the world May 8, is a Chicagoan with Creole and Caribbean heritage rooted in New Orleans.

Since Robert Prevost is a Chicago native, baseball fans were eager to learn which baseball team the new pontiff supports.