Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago delegation meet with Pope Leo XIV in Rome

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and a delegation of leaders in business, government, faith, education, and other fields met with Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican on Thursday.

It was a monumental day for Mayor Johnson and everyone in his delegation, as they met with the first American pope, who of course is a Chicagoan himself.

The mayor touched down in Rome on Thursday after an overnight flight, and meetings with the pope followed in the late afternoon.  Local time in Rome is seven hours ahead of that of Chicago.

The mayor first met individually with the pope, and then the pope met with others from the 46-member delegation from Chicago that the mayor is leading. The delegation includes a mix of community, religious, and business leaders.

In a debrief with reporters immediately after his meeting with the pope, Mayor Johnson said they spoke about the pope's historic apology for the Church's role in slavery going back to the 15th century, issued this past Monday.

They also spoke about support for the marginalized, and challenging policies that lead to war and disenfranchisement — particularly those of the Trump administration, as characterized by the mayor.

"We also talked about just elevating the awareness of the conditions that many people are living through, and whether that's in Chicago, or Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba," the mayor said. "We talked about clearly the conditions that the long legacy of slavery and disinvestment has had on Black America."

Mayor Johnson said he also brought up his own faith as he spoke to Pope Leo.

"As someone who has relied upon my faith to guide me in decisions that I make, and even when those decisions are not always as well-received, I reflected on the story of the life of Joseph, where Joseph used his position of influence and power to take care of his siblings and also feed the world," Mayor Johnson said. "I believe that's what political and government leadership should do in this moment."

The mayor talked about some of his other impressions.

"What I witnessed was an incredibly humble individual whose roots really define his leadership in this moment. I think the sort of Chicago-style energy, and just his presence, is his comfort in his own skin — you know, a pope who can talk about global international population shift, and can have like a good home Chicago argument over the Cubs and the Sox," Mayor Johnson said. "That's who we are in Chicago."

Representing the City of Chicago in the Vatican in addition to Mayor Johnson were Deputy Mayor Max Budovich, city Treasurer Melissa Conyers Ervin, Ald. Lamont Robinson (4th), Ald. Julia Ramirez (12th), and Ald. Jason Ervin (28th), and Chicago Department of Environment Commissioner Angela Tovar, among others.

From the business community, the delegation includes representatives of United Airlines, the Chicago Sky, and the food and facilities firm SodexoMagic.

From the religious educational community, the delegation includes Loyola University Chicago President Dr. Mark Reed, DePaul University President Dr. Robert Manuel, Yusef Jackson of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Father Juan Vargas of Our Lady of the Rosary, and the Rev. Stephen Thurston, pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church.

Complete list of the Chicago delegation in Rome

On Wednesday, before Mayor Johnson arrived, members of the delegation toured sustainability facilities with their counterparts from the City of Rome. The next day, about 15 vans transporting the delegation were seen lined up at the Porta del Perugino, a secured entrance to the Vatican.

Mayor Johnson, however, entered Vatican City from the front. He took in the view of St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica, and he then went inside.

Once he entered, the mayor was reunited with members of the delegation who arrived before he did.

"Just a great opportunity to connect with a world leader who has a heart for all the people, understands that the need today is the greatest to represent those who have no voice," said Bishop Horace Smith, senior pastor of Apostolic Faith Church in Bronzeville, "and I think the mayor's leading this charge. I think he aligns with the mayor's views about people and justice. It's just refreshing to see this happening."

Members of the delegation were excited as they entered the Vatican on Thursday. Ald. Ervin showed off a golden T-shirt with the words, "God Bless the Westside," on it, which he planned to present to Pope Leo XIV as a gift.

Others were excited about how Chicago would be represented.

"The very best of Chicago is going to be showcased right here in the Eternal City," said Pasquale Gianni, principal of Gianni Legal and Consulting Service and chair of the Milan Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International.

"So important that people of faith come to meet the pope and to build the community with moral leaders thinking about the global issues facing our world, and that show up in our city, and to be in solidarity with one another," said Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann, founder of Mishkan Chicago.

Yusef Jackson, president and chief executive officer of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, thought back to a visit to the Vatican more than 40 years ago with his father, the late Rev. Jesse Jackson. The senior Jackson died Feb. 17 at the age of 84. 

"My very first international trip was in 1983 with my father, when he came here to meet [Pope] John Paul [II], and I've been to Rome since, but I haven't been since his passing. It's been very emotional," Jackson said. "But you know, he came to me, John Paul, to talk about the crisis in Haiti and the crisis in Cuba. Those two crises still exist. So I hope that at some point on our agenda for the day to talk about what the pope can do."

During the meetings Thursday, the mayor and his delegation presented the pope with dozens of gifts. Notably, Mayor Johnson personally presented Pope Leo with a key to the City of Chicago and an invitation to return home and deliver mass in Grant Park.

The last, and only, pope to deliver mass in Grant Park was Pope John Paul II in 1979.

The delegation also delivered letters from families of detained immigrants to the pope.

Also on the gift list, among other items, were J.P. Graziano's giardiniera, Frango mints honey from the roof of the Chicago Cultural Center, two "Everything dope including the pope comes from Chicago" T-shirts from Chicago historian Shermann "Dilla" Thomas, Chicago White Sox hats featuring the Italian flag, a Pope Leo Cubs jersey and two Cubs hats from the Cubs Organization — delivered despite the pope's affinity for the White Sox.

In one lighthearted moment, someone tried to give the pope a Cubs hat. The White Sox fan pontiff said, "Oh no, I can't put it on — I'm already wearing a hat."

To a person, everyone talked about how down-to-earth and soft-spoken Pope Leo XIV was, but also how determined he was. He reminded them of their neighbors — the people next door back in Chicago.