Pope Leo XIV celebrated in Chicago with mass at Holy Name Cathedral as many remember his early life
Celebrations for the first American pope continued around the Chicago area in churches and schools and homes Friday.
Pope Leo XIV grew up in south suburban Dolton. The world was shocked Thursday that an American from the U.S. was elected pope, especially one who was born and raised right here in Chicago.
Friday morning at Holy Name Cathedral, parishioners filled the pews for a Mass of Thanksgiving. It's their normal mass, but it's also the first time they will pray for the new Holy Father.
"It was beautiful just to be part of the celebration of holy father being elected. I know this was not an easy decision," parishioner Susan said.
Born Robert Francis Prevost, he is now known as Pope Leo XIV.
His journey began in Dolton, Illinois, where he was born to American parents with Peruvian roots.
On his childhood street, he's still known as "Robby," remembered for playing priest and also Red Rover.
He served as an altar boy at the now-shuttered St. Mary of the assumption church in Riverdale. As early as the first grade, his neighbors said they believed he would become the first American pope.
After studying at Villanova and earning a master of Divinity in Hyde Park, his missionary work led him to Peru, where he served for nearly two decades.
Known for his humility and commitment to social justice, Prevost quickly climbed the church's ranks.
In 2023, he became a cardinal, and this week, he made history as the first U.S.-born pope.
A father at Holy Name remembered meeting Pope Leo XIV in 2016, calling him humble, personable, and worthy of prayer.
"We just have to pray for him. Pope means bridge builder in Latin. So to pray that he builds bridges and tears down walls among people," Father Andy Matijevic said.
He's still in shock and disbelief that Prevost is now the new pontiff.
"It's been kind of surreal. Like the fact that we have an born American pope. It's something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime. I actually met Pope Leo XIV back in 2016 when he was here for a mass, and I served for him. It's a great honor for Chicago to produce a pope, and I think it's going to bring unity to the city into the nation and ultimately the world."
"He's going to pull us through the storms, undoubtedly. Unity for all, God bless you," Susan said.
New gold and white bunting was used in celebration, and the marquee featured an image of Pope Leo XIV.
Cardinals Cupich, Gregory speak about their experience in the conclave
Five cardinals from the U.S. spoke to the media Friday morning about their experience in the conclave.
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich said he saw the experience of how people were able to listen and treat each other with respect, leading to the decision to elect Pope Leo XIV within 24 hours.
"I hope that's a signal to the world that we can reach across our differences and culture, language, country, nationality, and work tighter to solve the problems that are there, that we have the opportunity to reconcile and have peace, and I think it's instructive that Pope Leo began his message to people in the square by offering them the peace of Christ," he said.
"If only the rest of us in our lives and in the world could have that mad dash to unity that we seem to have in the conclave," Cupich added.
Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who served as Archbishop of Washington D.C. until January and, like the new pope, was born and raised on Chicago's South Side, also described his experience voting in his first conclave as positive and inspiring.
"I could not be more grateful that it happened in the holy year of hope. That we are pilgrims of hope, something that Pope Francis had initiated," he said. "I felt comfortable saying to Pope Leo--from one South Sider of Chicago to another--I promise you my respect, my fidelity, and my love. It was just an amazing opportunity to see such a diverse assembly of humanity, obviously coming from many different perspectives facing many different challenges, but coming together for a common purpose: to find Peter's successor, and I think we did well."
Woman recalls meeting Pope Leo XIV as a student at St. Gabriel Catholic School
Gianna Simental, 24, runs the after-school program at St. Gabriel in Canaryville, but in 2015, she had met the new pontiff when she was in eighth grade.
Pope Leo XIV's brother was the principal at the time.
The bishop who was initially supposed to perform her confirmation canceled last minute. As a favor to his brother, Pope Leo, who happened to be in town, performed the confirmation.
Simental said she was joking about the idea of the new pope being Pope Leo before his confirmation.
"I was joking when the list came out of who might be pope, and I was like 'would it be funny I could say this?' and all this stuff, just joking, just being like, you know. It was my friend that texted me, she was like 'it's him.' I was like oh, I know what she means. And I looked and the news and I was like no way."
She almost immediately contacted her parents, who then went through old yearbooks to find the picture of her standing next to now Pope Leo XIV.
Simental said she wishes she remembered more about the encounter, but does remember how kind he was.
"I wish I remembered the speech he gave because I feel like eith grade you're like 14, you're just so nervous at that time like I didn't really take it in and I wish I took it in. So now, when I heard his speech yesterday, I was able to understand it more, or listen more to it.
Though she said she doesn't know the new pontiff personally, the moment is surreal.
