Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was elected Pope on Thursday, becoming Pope Leo XIV—the first American to ever lead the Catholic Church. But beyond its religious significance, his election has sparked a wave of hopeful, and often humorous, reactions from Chicago sports fans and media personalities, many wondering: Could the new Pope “bless” the city’s struggling sports franchises?
Michael Wilbon: “Is he gonna bless the Bears?”
The buzz made it onto ESPN’s Get Up on Friday, where veteran broadcaster and proud Chicago native Michael Wilbon shared how fans back home have been fixated on the papal news, albeit through a uniquely Windy City lens.
“In Chicago, we’re so obsessed,” Wilbon said. “We want to know everything about the Pope. Is he gonna bless the Bears?”
Co-host Brian Windhorst jumped in, redirecting the hopeful “blessing” from the Bears to the Bulls, who are facing a critical moment with the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery on Monday.
“Forget the Bears! The Bulls on Monday in the lottery,” Windhorst said. “The Bulls on Monday, Cooper Flagg.”
Wilbon was quick to agree: “I’ll take that, Windy.”
A city in desperate need of miracles
While Chicago did enjoy a championship as recently as 2021 thanks to the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, other major teams have been stuck in prolonged droughts. The Bears haven’t won a Super Bowl since 1986. The Bulls haven’t lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy since 1998 and have made the playoffs only twice in the last ten years.
Still, some argue the team most in need of divine intervention is the Chicago White Sox . Pope Leo XIV is reportedly a fan of the team, which could use more than papal support after finishing with the worst record in modern MLB history last season.
A light in a dark sports era
Whether Pope Leo XIV decides to lend any spiritual favor to his hometown teams remains to be seen. But at the very least, his election has provided Chicago fans with a rare dose of light-hearted optimism. In what has otherwise been a frustrating stretch for local sports, the idea that the Pope might help turn things around—jokingly or not—is giving fans something to rally around.
As Wilbon put it, “We want to know everything about the Pope.” Right now, Chicago just might want him to know everything about their teams, too.
Michael Wilbon: “Is he gonna bless the Bears?”
The buzz made it onto ESPN’s Get Up on Friday, where veteran broadcaster and proud Chicago native Michael Wilbon shared how fans back home have been fixated on the papal news, albeit through a uniquely Windy City lens.
“In Chicago, we’re so obsessed,” Wilbon said. “We want to know everything about the Pope. Is he gonna bless the Bears?”
Co-host Brian Windhorst jumped in, redirecting the hopeful “blessing” from the Bears to the Bulls, who are facing a critical moment with the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery on Monday.
“Forget the Bears! The Bulls on Monday in the lottery,” Windhorst said. “The Bulls on Monday, Cooper Flagg.”
Wilbon was quick to agree: “I’ll take that, Windy.”
A city in desperate need of miracles
While Chicago did enjoy a championship as recently as 2021 thanks to the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, other major teams have been stuck in prolonged droughts. The Bears haven’t won a Super Bowl since 1986. The Bulls haven’t lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy since 1998 and have made the playoffs only twice in the last ten years.
Still, some argue the team most in need of divine intervention is the Chicago White Sox . Pope Leo XIV is reportedly a fan of the team, which could use more than papal support after finishing with the worst record in modern MLB history last season.
A light in a dark sports era
Whether Pope Leo XIV decides to lend any spiritual favor to his hometown teams remains to be seen. But at the very least, his election has provided Chicago fans with a rare dose of light-hearted optimism. In what has otherwise been a frustrating stretch for local sports, the idea that the Pope might help turn things around—jokingly or not—is giving fans something to rally around.
As Wilbon put it, “We want to know everything about the Pope.” Right now, Chicago just might want him to know everything about their teams, too.
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