Pope Leo XIV Receives Baseball Bat Gifted by Hall of Famer Nellie Fox, Brings Laughter and Joy to Papal Plane
During a surprise visit aboard the papal plane, Pope Leo XIV was presented with a baseball bat once owned by legendary White Sox player Nellie Fox. As part of an annual tradition among Vatican correspondents, CBS News correspondent Chris Livesay gifted the pontiff Fox's iconic Louisville Slugger.
The gesture wasn't lost on the pope, whose eyes lit up when he noticed the initials and number on the end of the bat, which had been given to Livesay by his cousin. "How did you get this through security?" Pope Leo XIV quipped, prompting chuckles from the group.
Nellie Fox, a two-time All-Star second baseman who was born on Christmas Day 1927, holds a special place in baseball history. The White Sox Hall of Famer led the American League in singles for seven consecutive seasons and set a team record for consecutive games with multiple hits that stood until 2016.
The papal plane also brought gifts from Fox's legacy to Pope Leo XIV, including a pair of White Sox-branded slippers and socks, which were a playful nod to the pontiff's fondness for white socks. The gestures are part of a growing bond between the Catholic Church and Major League Baseball, marked by high-profile interactions between Pope Francis (the predecessor) and various teams.
Pope Leo XIV has been making headlines since his election in May, with photos and videos emerging of him watching baseball games from the stands. He even gifted a signed jersey to White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, and donned a Sox hat that was given to him by a fan at St. Peter's Square.
The papal plane also featured a White Sox-themed mural near the World Series seats in Section 140, as part of a growing cultural exchange between the Vatican and Major League Baseball.
During a surprise visit aboard the papal plane, Pope Leo XIV was presented with a baseball bat once owned by legendary White Sox player Nellie Fox. As part of an annual tradition among Vatican correspondents, CBS News correspondent Chris Livesay gifted the pontiff Fox's iconic Louisville Slugger.
The gesture wasn't lost on the pope, whose eyes lit up when he noticed the initials and number on the end of the bat, which had been given to Livesay by his cousin. "How did you get this through security?" Pope Leo XIV quipped, prompting chuckles from the group.
Nellie Fox, a two-time All-Star second baseman who was born on Christmas Day 1927, holds a special place in baseball history. The White Sox Hall of Famer led the American League in singles for seven consecutive seasons and set a team record for consecutive games with multiple hits that stood until 2016.
The papal plane also brought gifts from Fox's legacy to Pope Leo XIV, including a pair of White Sox-branded slippers and socks, which were a playful nod to the pontiff's fondness for white socks. The gestures are part of a growing bond between the Catholic Church and Major League Baseball, marked by high-profile interactions between Pope Francis (the predecessor) and various teams.
Pope Leo XIV has been making headlines since his election in May, with photos and videos emerging of him watching baseball games from the stands. He even gifted a signed jersey to White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, and donned a Sox hat that was given to him by a fan at St. Peter's Square.
The papal plane also featured a White Sox-themed mural near the World Series seats in Section 140, as part of a growing cultural exchange between the Vatican and Major League Baseball.
Oh man this is just too much! I mean, who wouldn't want to give Pope Leo XIV a baseball bat? 
The fact that he even cracked a joke about getting it through security shows me he's got some serious humor going on. And those White Sox slippers and socks? Genius! 
! i mean who wouldn't want a signed jersey from paul konerko or a pair of white sox slippers 
the vatican and mlb are def crushing it with these cultural exchanges 
. can't wait to see what else pope leo xiv gets up to in his new role 
!
and who doesn't love white sox socks? 
I mean, think about it, if Pope Leo XIV can bond with Nellie Fox over baseball, why can't our politicians put aside their differences to work together? 
Are they too busy playing ball to get things done? 
, jus somethin simple like a baseball bat from a legend can do the trick 
. pope leo xiv seems like a cool dude who's into more than just theology 
The more I read about this, the more I want to know about Pope Leo XIV's baseball fandom 
. pope leo XIV seems like a chill pope who loves baseball as much as we do 
️
. and those white sox-branded slippers and socks are straight fire 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to show some fun love for America's favorite pastime? 
And those White Sox-themed gifts? Genius! Pope Leo XIV seems like a fun guy 
. I'm also loving how he quipped about getting the bat through security 
. Let's keep celebrating those unexpected friendships! 
.
! Who needs Vatican art when you've got baseball on your mind?