Pope Leo XIV given baseball bat owned by White Sox Hall of Famer Nellie Fox

Pope Leo XIV's Gifted Baseball Bat Brings Smiles from White Sox Legend Nellie Fox

In an unexpected gesture of friendship, CBS News correspondent Chris Livesay gifted Pope Leo XIV a historic baseball bat once owned by legendary White Sox player Nellie Fox during the pontiff's first overseas papal trip. As part of a tradition among press members to bring gifts aboard the plane, Fox's Louisville Slugger was presented to the pope with an air of excitement and curiosity from both parties.

The symbolic gesture marked another moment in Pope Leo XIV's unique connection with the Chicago White Sox, with whom he has been bonding over recent months. The bat, bearing Fox's initials and number, seemed to spark a chuckle from the pope when Livesay jokingly asked how it managed to pass through airport security. Fox, known for her impressive baseball career that spanned seven consecutive seasons in the American League, became an iconic figure among Sox fans with her record-breaking 1955 streak of consecutive games with multiple hits.

The gesture was just one of several lighthearted moments Pope Leo XIV shared with reporters during his trip. Earlier this month, he had met with White Sox co-owner Justin Ishbia and even gifted the team's first baseman Paul Konerko with a signed jersey. Additionally, the pope sported a Sox hat while visiting St. Peter's Square and joined in on a White Sox chant at Vatican City shortly after the unveiling of a mural honoring him near his World Series seats.

In a moment of levity, Pope Leo XIV even offered words of gratitude to American journalists as they prepared for Thanksgiving, which he noted was an important holiday in their country. The gesture from Fox's bat was seen as just another example of the pontiff's unique rapport with baseball and its fans, one that will undoubtedly continue to be explored in the coming months.

I'm loving this Pope Leo XIV thing, he's really bringing a smile to people's faces! The White Sox connection is so cool, who knew the pope was a fan of America's favorite pastime? It's awesome that he's bonding with the team and their fans over something like baseball. I can imagine Nellie Fox's Louisville Slugger being a great conversation starter on an airplane flight ️. And now the pope is rocking Sox gear at Vatican City, that's some serious style points ️!

OMG , can you even believe Pope Leo XIV is literally besties with Nellie Fox?! I mean, I know it sounds crazy but like, who wouldn't want to hang out with a legend like that? I'm low-key hoping they have a Sox vs Cardinals game soon so the pope can bring his A-game . And lol at him asking how the bat made airport security . The guy's just so chill and down-to-earth, you know? Love this story!

lol what a cool story ! I mean, who would've thought Pope Leo XIV would connect with Nellie Fox over baseball? it's awesome to see him showing his human side . But seriously, has anyone else noticed that this kinda gesture could be the start of something bigger? like, how about if we get world leaders to show interest in our sports or hobbies too? just a thought . I'm loving the vibes coming out of the Vatican lately . And btw, who needs diplomatic meetings when you can exchange baseball bats and jerseys?

I'm loving this story! Pope Leo XIV is totally cool for bringing a little joy into the lives of the White Sox crew. I mean, who doesn't love baseball? ️ It's awesome that he got to share some laughs with Chris Livesay and Nellie Fox. I've seen those Louisville Sluggers in action and they're pretty iconic! The pope is just being his awesome self, spreading positivity wherever he goes. It's great to see him connecting with people from different walks of life through sports.

Idk why people are making such a big deal about this Pope Leo XIV guy giving some old baseball bat to Nellie Fox's nephew or whatever... I mean, it's just a gift, right? But seriously, what's the big connection between the pope and the White Sox again? Wasn't that just some charity event or something? And what's up with all these gifts he's giving to random people on his trip? A signed jersey from Paul Konerko? That's cute and all, but come on...

OMG can you even imagine getting a Louisville Slugger as a gift? Nellie Fox is an icon! I love how Pope Leo XIV is just chillin' with the White Sox team and showing them some love . It's not every day you see a pope rocking a Sox hat . And can we talk about how awesome it is that he gifted Paul Konerko a jersey? The pope is bringing people together through baseball . I'm so here for this unique connection between the church and sports . Let's keep spreading those positive vibes!

lol @ Pope Leo XIV rocking that Sox hat what's next? is he gonna show up to Mass swinging a Louisville Slugger i'm not mad at him for being down with Nellie Fox though, she was a total legend on the field and this bat thing just shows how chill he's trying to be. maybe it's a sign of things to come? pope leo XIV as our new White Sox super fan

omg i cant even believe the pope is such a cool dude i mean who gifts a baseball bat to the pope?? lol nelly foxs bat must have been like a super cool gift for him and now he's bonding with the white sox over baseball ️ its so sweet how pope leo xiv is just being himself and not taking anything too seriously when it comes to protocol i bet he's just having a blast on his trip

Ugh, I'm so over this gift-giving thing on the plane . Can't they think of something more meaningful to bring? Like a book about the history of the Vatican or something? A baseball bat just seems like a random gesture to me... what's next, a signed jersey and a Sox hat combo? It's all so staged and artificial. And what's with the airport security comment? Come on, it was just a joke! Can't we have some real conversations here?

omg u guys i just heard about pope leo xiv giving a historic baseball bat to nellie fox from the white sox it's like whoa how did he even get his hands on it lol anyways i'm low-key obsessed with pope leo xiv right now i mean have you seen that pic of him in the sox hat and then there's this bat thingy i feel like we're getting a glimpse into the fun life of the pope he's literally bonding with baseball players over gifts lol what do u guys think about it? is it weird or cool

man this pope dude is really showing us his fun side , i mean who knew he had a soft spot for baseball and chicago sports? it's like he's trying to humanize himself and connect with people on a different level, and honestly it's kinda adorable , the way nellie fox's historic bat was presented to him is just so cool, i can see why it would make the pope chuckle , and that sox hat he rocked at st peter's square? , it's like he's one of us or something , what i think is really interesting is how this pope dude is using lighthearted moments to break down barriers and build relationships with people from different backgrounds, it's a great example of how we can all connect over shared interests .

[Image of Pope Leo XIV holding a Louisville Slugger with Nellie Fox's initials and number]

Pope Leo XIV is like the ultimate swing for change from serious papal stuff! Who knew baseball could bring people (and even popes) together?

[A GIF of Pope Leo XIV wearing a Sox hat, laughing]

[An image of Nellie Fox in her White Sox jersey, with a "Home Run" caption]

I love this story ! Who knew Pope Leo XIV had such a playful side? It's amazing how something so simple like a baseball bat can bring people together . I mean, it's not every day you see a head of state bonding over a shared love of the game with sports legends and fans alike . And can we talk about Nellie Fox for a sec? What an incredible career she had! 7 consecutive seasons with multiple hits is just mind-blowing ️. It's great to see the White Sox getting some love, especially from the Vatican .