Baseball signed by White Sox fan Pope Leo XIV up for auction

The Rawlings Official Major League (Manfred) baseball bears a blue ballpoint autograph on a side panel, signed “Leo PP. XIV.”

Described as being in excellent condition, it is among the rarest of all papal autographed formats and is estimated to fetch £7,438 ($10,000).

Boston-based RR Auction said: "Born in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV has never hidden his love of the White Sox. He was even in attendance at Game 1 of the 2005 World Series at U.S. Cellular Field, where the Sox went on to sweep the Houston Astros in four games, claiming their first championship in 88 years."

The quirky lot comes from the renowned Randy L. Kaplan Collection of Signed Baseballs from World Leaders and Heads of State.

Kaplan began assembling the collection in the 1990s, acquiring autographs through personal meetings, book signings, and diplomatic channels.

With more than 450 signed balls, his collection has been displayed at presidential libraries nationwide and featured by HBO’s Vice News and the New York Times.

The Pope Leo XIV baseball is accompanied by the original USPS bubble mailer from the Apostolic Nunciature, copies of Kaplan’s correspondence with Vatican offices, and most importantly, a signed letter of authenticity from Kaplan.

In the letter, Kaplan explains that on May 14, he mailed the baseball and two Chicago White Sox caps to Fr. Edgard Ivan Rimaycuna Inga at the Vatican. One cap was intended for Pope Leo and another for the priest.

"Pope Leo is a long-standing Chicago White Sox fan, and he makes it very clear that he is not a Cubs fan," Kaplan noted. Weeks later, the baseball returned to him — signed by the pontiff.

A Pope Francis single-signed baseball sold for $18,750 at RR Auction in May 2025.

The Fine Autographs and Artifacts Featuring Sports and Encapsulation auction from RR Auction will conclude on Oct. 8.