Shaun Connolly

I grew up an Irish Catholic here in Worcester, I know a huge surprise. I have since lapsed, I attend the usual Easter and Christmas Mass to appease my mother. Each year now, I attend the memorial Mass for my father. But Catholicism only exists in the context of my past. I exist and be thanks to the countless hours in church, learning the Catechism, and feeling guilty about lying to my parents. In turn, I have also always been fascinated by the idea of the Pope. First, because I couldn’t believe such a holy person could hide and obstruct such heinous crimes. Secondly, in such a modern world, one of the oldest known positions of “power” still exists and has stayed somewhat relevant. 

So, when I learned that the next Pope elected in the most recent Conclave was an American, I was gobsmacked. Then to learn this is a guy who grew up in the Chicago Diocese, with family linked to New Orleans and was spotted at Game 1 of the 2005 Major League Baseball World Series, my head started spinning. I am confident that this is the first Pope to eat a hotdog. I am confident that Pope Leo IVX is completely aware of former manager Ozzie Guillen’s theory of why there were less injuries when he played because they drank beer and were fat. I am confident that he was disappointed in the Andrew Benintiendi trade and questioned how such a bright and rising star could so quickly fall to the middle of the pack. This guy witnessed the Disco Riot at Comiskey Park! This guy knows who Jesus Luzardo is! (born in Peru at the same time Leo was a Cardinal there).

There have already been one thousand op-eds written about why an American Pope is a good or a bad thing. But what about if this is good for baseball or not? It of course is good for baseball. Anything to make it relevant and modern. Sure, the papacy is an antique. It is not something you look for when you want something fresh. It is old and stingy and rigid. But so is baseball. Both are making moves to be more relatable to the modern world. 

Catholicism and baseball are full of rules, choreography, years of history that is painstakingly recorded in large books. Both play to one’s heart, it is more than just the numbers or letters written on the page. Both need context. This is not a promotion of folks to become Catholic, but it is a request to consider baseball. It is a flawed, but beautiful game and Pope Leo knows how to love and praise with grace despite the original sin. 

I am excited for the Pope, I am excited for this baseball season and its future years. I am writing to South Sider Bob Prevost now of Vatican City to not forget where he came from and continue to embrace baseball at the right hand of the father. This is word of our Lord, Pedro Martinez. Amen.