Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he and Pope Leo The 14th had a substantive conversation about how government and faith leaders can work together to protect people around the world, during their meeting at The Vatican.
"It's a tremendous honor," said the mayor of his roughly hour-long audience with the Chicago-born pope Thursday. "I'm deeply humbled by it."
The mayor told reporters after the meeting that the discussion involving members of the city's 46-person delegation touched on a range of issues, including the Vatican's statement this week apologizing for the Roman Catholic Church's historical role in authorizing the trading of slaves.
"I had a real exchange with one of the most influential global religious leaders around how the legacy of slavery has had a devastating impact on our globe," he said. "We just had a real rich conversation about what this moment is calling for."
The mayor has been joined on the trip by well-known business, elected and faith leaders, including Chicago City Clerk Melissa Conyears-Ervin, Rainbow/PUSH president and CEO Yusef Jackson, and Johnson's close ally Stacy Davis Gates, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union and the Illinois Federation of Teachers. The mayor's office has said the trip was being underwritten by the city's public-private economic development agency World Business Chicago, and that no taxpayer dollars are being used.
Mayor Johnson also said he invited the Pope to return to Chicago to celebrate Mass; there's no word on whether or when he might accept that invitation. In addition, the mayor delivered a range of gifts to the Pope, including White Sox and Cubs hats, giardiniera from J.P. Graziano's, and a T-shirt that says "God bless the West side."
The Chicago delegation is set to return on Saturday.
Chicago-born pope invited to celebrate Mass in city
Chicago-born pope invited to celebrate Mass in city
