"Everything dope, including the pope, comes from Chicago!": Celebrations abound for Pope Leo XIV
"Everything dope, including the pope, comes from Chicago!": Celebrations abound for Pope Leo XIV
The election of Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, as the new pontiff has delighted Catholics and officials alike.
Chicagoan Cole Ceravolo, a Notre Dame student who was in Vatican City for the announcement, described the excitement he felt hearing a hometown cardinal had been selected to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
"So awesome, because Chicago, the people in Chicago, the culture is unbeatable. The people are the most welcoming, the most--I don't know how to say it, it just makes me proud to be a Chicagoan, it makes me proud to have the first American pope, proud to be here," he said. "I love everything that the city's about."
The news was as much a shock to him and the rest of the crowd as it was to Chicago, too.
"Everybody was talking about the favorites not being the American, so hearing 'Americano, Americano,' whispered throughout the crowd, hearing an Italian translator figure out who it was, it was so exciting," Ceravolo said.
Chicago officials agreed.
"Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago!" Mayor Brandon Johnson posted on X. "Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon."
The Chicago Archdiocese proclaimed, "Glory be to God!" on their X account. "Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost is the Successor of Saint Peter."
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker hailed the "historic moment" in his statement.
"Hailing from Chicago, Pope Leo XIV ushers in a new chapter that I join those in our state welcoming in a time when we need compassion, unity, and peace," he wrote.
Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd) seemed to catch the same vibes as Mayor Johnson did, posting, "'Everything dope comes from Chicago' hits a new level. Wishing the best for Pope Leo XIV as he guides a modern global Catholic church."
And the Cubs made sure everyone knew where Pope Leo XIV's team allegiances lay, though the pope's brother was quick to point out this was mistaken. John Prevost said Leo XIV is a White Sox fan.
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Illinois) celebrated by pointing out that the new pope comes from her very own district.
"Pope Leo XIV grew up in Dolton," she wrote. "Right here in the Second District!"
"Habemus Papum!!! Please join the Diocese of Joliet as we rejoice with the news of our new Holy Father, Leo XIV," wrote the Archdiocese of Joliet on their X account.
Pope Leo XIV taught at St. Rita Academy on Chicago's Southwest Side, who tweeted, "St. Rita Family — Habemus Papam! One of our own, Honorary Alumnus Rev. Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., is Pope Leo XIV."
Parishioners at Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago, shed tears of joy after learning a Chicago native was elected pope. It was while parishioners were inside during noon mass that word came about the pontiff and his Chicago ties.
"That's just like the cherry on top. That's very special. I think it's a wonderful, wonderful global moment," Luiza Przewodnikowska said. "The fact that the church has a new pope is just extremely exciting, and the fact that he's from America, and I just hope that it creates a sense of global unity that we so need."
Grant Hougo, who grew up in Lakeview, said it was a crazy surprise to see a Chicagoan elected pope.
"I'm also a Villanova grad, so to see another Villanovan heading for the Vatican, it seems absolutely unreal," he said.
Holy Name Cathedral's rector, Fr. Gregory Sakowicz said he's "in total shock" over the announcement.
"He would have been one of my top 10 picks, but I thought it'll never be an American, let alone from Chicago, because we had three from Chicago – Cardinal Cupich, Cardinal Gregory, and Cardinal Robert Prevost. I thought it won't happen," he said. "Ironically, as it was announced with the white smoke, or the billowing smoke, the sun came out in Chicago, but I did not know who it was."
Sakowicz said it wasn't until he was distributing holy communion at Thursday's noon mass that he learned Prevost had been elected pope.
"I announced it and the place erupted, erupted knowing that he was from Chicago. I think that we were all just very happily surprised," he said.
In hindsight, Sakowicz said the choice of a new pope shouldn't be a surprise, since he had been in charge of naming new bishops before becoming pope.
"So he was very well-known by the other cardinals," he said.
Like Francis, Leo XIV spent time as a cardinal embracing marginalized groups like the poor and migrants, issues many Chicago Catholics hold close to their hearts.
Sakowicz noted the last pope named Leo was not only one of the longest-reigning pontiffs, but wrote a book about taking care of the poor and the rights of workers to form unions, which tells him Leo XIV will be focused on social justice issues like labor, immigration, and human rights.
"Usually the successor's name follows the predecessor in some ways, so those are kind of my early thoughts on why Leo XIV and what his papacy will be moving forward," he said.
Jim Roaquin, who was visiting Chicago from California and attended Thursday's noon mass at Holy Name Cathedral alongside his wife,
"We are Filipinos, and there was talk it might be a Filipino pope, but then it's an American, and it's so great. We did not lose our bet," he said.
Roaquin also said he hopes Leo XIV can help bring a sense of global unity in troubled times around the world.
"I hope that, as a new pope, he will be a humble pope, and a pope that promotes peace just like Pope Francis. With all the troubles going on around the world, we hope that he could be a unifying force to have peace all over the world," he said.
Leo XIV's connection to Chicago stretches wide. The pope's aforementioned brother, John Prevost, served as principal for several years at St. Gabriel Catholic School, at 4500 S. Wallace St. in the Canaryville neighborhood.
One year, Principal Prevost needed a huge favor — a last-minute replacement for the eighth-grade confirmation. In 2015, Robert Prevost — the Leo XIV — blessed the children.
The moment from a decade ago, of course, is even more significant today.
Leo XVI earned his Master's of Divinity from Chicago's Catholic Theological Union in the Hyde Park neighborhood in 1992. The school is already marketing its most famous alum, and students are proud to have a connection with the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
"Everyone is texting each other, because no way anyone believed an American would become pope and it just makes me, at least, very proud that our order produced a man prayerful, prudent, loving enough to be chosen as pope," said Brother Nathan Fernandez, a Catholic Theological Union student of the Augustinian order from Toronto, Canada.
The new pope's hometown delighted Chicagoans of all faiths, who were ready with jokes and memes, making "da pope" skyrocket on search.
Leo XIV is overall viewed as a centrist choice; he is seen as a progressive on many social issues, but conservative on church doctrine. For example, he opposes ordaining women as deacons.
