‘A regular neighborhood guy’: Suburban mayors talk White Sox with Pope Leo XIV during trip to the Vatican

A delegation of Illinois mayors say they experienced a number of “pinch me” moments during their trip to the Vatican this week, marked by a 45-minute private audience with native son Pope Leo XIV.

Yes, they were meeting with the head of the Catholic Church at the start of Holy Week — the holiest of all weeks on the church calendar.

But the visit was also taking place at the start of the baseball season, so the White Sox were a natural topic of conversation with the team’s best known fan.

“I asked him, hopefully he can help out the White Sox,” said Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens, “and he said, ‘Well, they could use a few more wins,’ and I said, ‘Well, they got the right guy here.’”

Elmwood Park Mayor Angelo “Skip” Saviano brought with him a print from White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf of the pontiff’s appearance — via video message — during a special Mass last June at Rate Field.

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