Soon-to-be Cardinal Blase Cupich gives Pope a Cubs hat, ball

He may be just days away from becoming a cardinal, but Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich has shown he has already become a Cubs fan by presenting Pope Francis with a cap and signed ball during a recent visit to the Vatican.

Cupich posted a picture on Twitter of the pontiff examining the Cubs hat and ball last week, with the Holy Father appearing joyful, no doubt moved by evidence of the miracle that was the Cubs’ long-awaited World Series victory.

Cupich will return to the Vatican this week for the formal “consistory” on Saturday, at which he will be elevated to cardinal, Archdiocese spokeswoman Colleen Tunney-Ryan said. Cupich, a native of Nebraska now in his second year as head of the Chicago Archdiocese, has embraced the local sports teams, Tunney-Ryan said.

“I don’t know if he just is into the Cubs, or if it’s just all things Chicago,” she said.

Francis, a native of soccer-mad Argentina, is a sports fan, though he has preached that fandom or participation in sports should not lure people away from attending Mass.