The St. Louis Cardinals have been at the center of a whirlwind week, both on and off the diamond, as the legendary baseball franchise found itself making headlines for reasons that stretch far beyond the ballpark. From Vatican City to the heart of their 2025 playoff push, the Cardinals are embracing change, building connections, and, perhaps, setting the stage for a memorable new chapter in their storied history.
It all started on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, when Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III and his wife Ira found themselves in the hallowed halls of Vatican City. Their trip overseas wasn’t just another stop on the offseason circuit—it was a meeting of Cardinals in the most literal sense. The couple was granted an audience with Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, who was elected in May and has quickly become a figure of both religious and cultural significance. The meeting was marked by a friendly exchange, a dash of baseball banter, and a heartfelt gift: a St. Louis Cardinals jersey emblazoned with “Pope Leo XIV” and the number “25.”
“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 told RomeReports.com, reflecting on the serendipitous overlap between his baseball club and the pontiff’s personal history. The pope, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, has long been associated with the White Sox, but the Cardinals connection runs deep through his family roots. It’s not every day that the leader of the Catholic Church shares a laugh over baseball allegiances, but for DeWitt, it was a moment to savor. “The pope and I share something in common. We both help manage Cardinals.”
The meeting was more than ceremonial. Ira DeWitt, known for her active role in the Catholic community, presented Pope Leo XIV 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,’” Ira said, her excitement palpable in the Roman air. The gesture wasn’t lost on the pontiff, who graciously accepted the gifts and the spirit of goodwill they represented.
Pope Leo XIV’s ties to St. Louis go beyond the jersey and the momentary camaraderie. During the 1970s, he spent a formative year in the Gateway City, training to become a priest at Immaculate Conception St. Henry’s parish. That connection, though decades old, added a layer of depth to an already meaningful encounter. In a year marked by transitions for both the Cardinals and the Catholic Church, the meeting in Vatican City felt like a bridge between past, present, and future.
Back in St. Louis, the Cardinals are facing their own crossroads, this time on the field. As the regular season winds down and the postseason looms, the club’s catching situation has become a focal point of both hope and uncertainty. Iván Herrera, one of the team’s brightest offensive stars, is at the heart of it all. Despite spending much of the 2025 season as a designated hitter due to injuries and defensive struggles, the Cardinals have made it clear: they want Herrera back behind the plate in 2026.
The decision comes after a candid conversation between Herrera, manager Oliver Marmol, and incoming president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. The trio mapped out a plan for Herrera’s winter, focusing on a return to catching duties that will demand both physical and mental preparation. “He’s committed to that,” Marmol said before Saturday’s game against the Brewers. “There’s a combination of what the throwing program needs to look like from Day One all the way through, coming in ready. But also, there’s two parts of this—the arm strength and also the preparation on the game-calling and just everything that goes with that. There’s a real commitment and desire to do that, from Iván and from us…coming alongside him and walking through this.”
Herrera’s 2025 campaign has been a tale of resilience and promise. He’s posted a team-leading .816 OPS, smashed 16 home runs, and emerged as a potent weapon in the Cardinals’ lineup. Yet, his path hasn’t been without obstacles. A strained left knee in April and a hamstring injury in June sidelined him for a combined 55 games, and his last appearance as a catcher came on June 19 in Chicago. Since then, Pedro Pagés, Yohel Pozo, and Jimmy Crooks have shouldered the catching load, prompting questions about Herrera’s future role.
For a brief stretch in July and August, Herrera even took his talents to left field, making his first four professional appearances outside the catcher’s gear. But by mid-August, the experiment ended, as the Cardinals prioritized playing time for other outfielders. The numbers tell part of the story: since the start of the 2024 season, opposing baserunners have gone a staggering 70-for-74 on stolen-base attempts against Herrera. That vulnerability, compounded by a nagging shoulder injury, has fueled doubts about his defensive viability.
Still, the Cardinals are betting on Herrera’s talent and work ethic. The club has crafted a detailed winter curriculum designed to rebuild his arm strength, refine his game-calling, and restore his confidence behind the plate. Catching coordinator Ethan Goforth and a cadre of coaches will oversee the process, though ongoing renovations at the team’s Jupiter, Florida, facility may require some improvisation when it comes to training locations.
Marmol, ever the pragmatist, acknowledges the road ahead is uncertain. “I think out of fairness, this should play out throughout spring,” he said, leaving open the possibility of a crowded competition for the catching job when camp opens in 2026. “It’s going to be an important offseason for [Herrera],” Marmol added. “But as we go into it, it’s with the full expectation of him doing this well and having an opportunity to catch.”
The coming months will be pivotal—not just for Herrera, but for the entire St. Louis organization. With a trio of catchers under team control and a fanbase hungry for a return to contention, the Cardinals are poised for a winter of introspection and hard work. As the Vatican encounter reminded everyone, the spirit of the Cardinals runs deeper than wins and losses. It’s about tradition, connection, and the relentless pursuit of excellence—on the field, in the community, and, sometimes, even in the company of a pope.
As the offseason approaches, all eyes are on St. Louis, where baseball’s next chapter is being written with equal parts faith, ambition, and a dash of Midwestern charm. Whether it’s a jersey in Vatican City or a revamped catching corps in Jupiter, the Cardinals are making moves that could shape their future for years to come.
