By Dean Murray

A baseball signed by Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope and a lifelong supporter of the Chicago White Sox, is going under the hammer.

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

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