Bill DeWitt III meets Pope Leo XIV, gifts him Cardinals jersey

VATICAN CITY - St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III recently crossed paths with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City, a meeting of Cardinals marked by a friendly chat and a gifted team jersey.

DeWitt and his wife, Ira, met the head of the Catholic Church on Wednesday during a trip overseas, according to the St. Louis Cardinals.

DeWitt presented the pope a St. Louis Cardinals baseball jersey inscribed with "Pope Leo XIV" and the number "25" on the back, and the pontiff accepted it gracefully with a smile.

Pope Leo XIV, whose real name is Robert Prevost, was born in Chicago and is widely known as a Chicago White Sox fan. However, his father grew up rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Dewitt tells RomeReports.com of his experience: "It was fun, because I noted he was a White Sox fan, and then he instantly said, 'Yeah, but my father was a Cardinals fan!' So there was a definite moment where we connected with what we were doing."

DeWitt added, "The pope and I share something in common. We both help manage Cardinals."

Pope Leo XIV, elected in May as the first American-born pope, also spent one year in St. Louis during the 1970s training to become a priest, serving at Immaculate Conception St. Henry’s parish.

Ira DeWitt, who is active in the Catholic community, also presented the pope with a scented prayer candle from her company, SAINT Candles.

"It's totally super cool because I was here when he was elected pope, so I think we're repping 'USA, USA,' said Ira via RomeReports.com.