The Guy in a Cubs Hat Hanging Out in the Vatican Might be the Pope

Pope Francis grew up in Argentina, named Jorge Mario Bergoglio to Italian immigrant parents, and is well-known to be a soccer fan. However, like when Michael Jordan famously said “Republicans buy sneakers too,” the pontiff knows that baseball fans can be Catholic, and that some of those Catholics love the Chicago Cubs. So he surely appreciated gifts recently brought to the Vatican by new Archbishop Blase Kupich, Chicago’s highest-ranking Catholic. The tribute included a Cubs cap and a baseball signed by the World Series champions.

It’s not certain that the pope prayed for the Cubs at any point during their 108-year championship drought, but it’s likely that he received more than one request by a Cubs fan. In fact, Pope-Cubs history goes back to at least 2005, when team media relations guru Sharon Pannozzo met John Paul II and brought back actual holy water said to have been blessed by him. Cubs manager Dusty Baker even poured some of it on Mark Prior’s injured elbow in the hope that it would cure what ailed him. The Cubs also had Wrigley Field, still under a goat cursed of course, officially blessed. Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, history tells us that Prior did not pitch with the Cubs beyond the 2006 season, and his career ended in the minor leagues in 2013. And the Cubs didn’t win the World Series for another 11 years.

So, did the bishop bring back any holy water for the 2017 Cubs? No word as of yet, but with those extra innings compiled due to a lengthy postseason run, any extra hydration could help.