Pray for the Win — Faith, Fandom, and Pope Leo XIV

What do sports fandom and religion have in common?

In this episode of Heart of a Fan, we explore how faith shows up in sports—from game-day prayers to lifelong belief in a team that keeps letting you down. With Pope Leo XIV—a Chicago native, Villanova alum, and White Sox fan—now leading the Catholic Church, the line between spiritual devotion and sports devotion feels thinner than ever.

We’re joined by:

• Dr. Jeffrey Scholes, professor of religious studies and director of the Center for Religious Diversity and Public Life, who unpacks the rituals, myths, and emotional pull that connect sports to faith.
• Jordan Lazowski, editor of Sox On 35th, who shares how the White Sox community is reacting to having one of their own in the Vatican—and why sports fandom may be the most spiritually honest identity we have.

Whether your sacred space is a stadium, a pew, or the spot on your couch where you wear your lucky jersey—this episode is for you.

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