“I almost passed out twice – twice – because to be living next to the pope, that’s real serious,” Kareem Davis told WBBM Newsradio’s Mike Krauser this week when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV. “God been here all this time and we couldn’t see it.”
People throughout the Chicago area have been celebrating the surprising announcement that the new pontiff was born in Chicago and raised in South Suburban Dolton, in the home next door to the Davis family’s home. Pope Leo XIV is the first pope from the U.S. and the 267th pope in the long history of the Catholic church.
“My husband definitely – he was the first to say: ‘Hey look, this is bringing hope to our community, you know,’ definitely, it’s been a blessing, you know, to find that information out,” said Donna Davis. Hope is important for the community, which she noted has seen some harder times.
Outside the pope’s former home on 141st Street, there was a cross outside with photographs of people lost to violence. Since the news that its former occupant became pope was announced, people have been stopping by to take photos and speak to neighbors about the home’s history.
In nearby Riverdale, Pope Leo XIV attended St. Mary of the Assumption Church while he was growing up, WBBM’s Cisco Cotto reported.
On the North Side of the city Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago, also celebrated the news that the pope is a Windy City native. Cotto said that a thanksgiving mass celebrating the new era of Pope Leo XIV was held there, led by Bishop Lawrence Sullivan, the vicar of the archdiocese.
“As a Chicagoan, I grew up on the southwest side of Chicago, and I understand how important that is for us to kind of be able to celebrate that, to have that hometown pride,” Sullivan said.
Father Greg Sakowicz, the rector at Holy Name Cathedral, also spoke about the historic event.
“Great day for Chicago, the country, and the world, and for all Catholics and for everybody in the world. He’s a unifier,” said Sakowicz.
Reporting from the cathedral, WBBM’s Terry Keshner added that Catholic officials and the faithful have said that the new pope will “use his Chicago roots and lifelong faith and kindness to bring the Church forward and to serve the world.”
WBBM’s Lisa Fielding added that Catholics throughout Chicagoland made their way to their local parishes this week to celebrate and pray for Pope Leo XIV. For all the local sports fans wondering if they are now rooting for the same teams as the pontiff, check out Audacy’s previous coverage here.