Chicago Celebrates as Local Son Becomes Pope Leo XIV

Chicago is buzzing with pride as Cardinal Robert Prevost, a native of the city’s South Side, has been elected as Pope Leo XIV—the first American to become head of the Catholic Church.

The once vibrant St Mary’s of the Assumption, where the new Pope attended mass and served as an altar boy, now stands largely abandoned, with only stained glass windows hinting at its past. Yet on Thursday, the church drew a small but emotional crowd as locals gathered to honor one of their own ascending to the papacy.

“I flipped out—I said no way!” said Mary Simons, a French teacher and lifelong Catholic. “I hope this brings new life to the Church here.”

Leo XIV’s rise comes amid a time of decline for Catholicism in the U.S., with church attendance shrinking and many parishes closing in major cities. St Mary’s itself is a symbol of that downturn. But his story—grounded in humility, faith, and service—has rekindled hope among many Chicagoans.

The Pope grew up just blocks from St Mary’s in a modest home, with a father who was a school administrator and a mother who worked as a librarian. Former classmates recall him as a “wicked-smart, kind, and quiet kid” who always knew he wanted to serve the Church.

Despite past controversies involving the Augustinian order he once led—particularly around delayed transparency in abuse cases—many believe Pope Leo XIV can usher in a new era of healing and accountability.

At Holy Name Cathedral, the heart of Chicago Catholicism, workers prepared for a celebratory mass. “The sun came out the moment the white smoke appeared,” said Rector Father Gregory Sakowicz. “He will be a voice for the voiceless, the poor, and our planet.”

And in true Chicago fashion, the city’s sports fans are debating whether the new Pope supports the Cubs or the White Sox. While his brother says he’s a White Sox fan, both teams have laid claim to him online.

Regardless, locals agree—this Pope belongs not just to Chicago, but to the world.