Sox fans jumped on the news, posting tweets that the Cubs’ claim was premature. If it’s true he’s a Sox fan, Pope Leo XIV would be the team’s second representative of the Vatican after former Sox pitcher “The Pope” Donn Pall.

Vance, a Catholic convert, had led the U.S. delegation to the formal Mass opening the pontificate of the first American pope.

When Vance presented the Chicago Bears jersey to Leo, the new pontiff said, "Good choice."