Parishioners filled the pews of the Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini on Sunday to celebrate an unprecedented moment in Catholic and American history: the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff — and a son of Chicago’s South Side.
Presiding over the Mass was Bishop Daniel Turley, a fellow member of the Augustinian order and close friend of the newly elected pope. The two worked side by side in Peru decades ago, and Turley was one of the pope’s supervisors.
“Saint Leo, our Holy Father at the time, preached from town to town all around the Mediterranean Sea,” Turley said during his homily, drawing parallels between the ancient pope and the new one. “The church was growing. Many more were listening to them, listening to God’s word through them. And they wanted to follow the changes.”
Turley’s voice swelled with emotion as he urged those gathered to welcome this new chapter in the church’s history by opening their hearts to love and renewal.
“Everything is made new,” Turley reminded congregants. “At this very moment, the Lord is renewing us. We are in good hands.”
The service marked more than just a spiritual milestone. For many in attendance, it was deeply personal.
“Well, it’s very special, for our country and especially for our city,” said Bob Symkowski, who attended the Mass with his sister Donna. Both of them grew up less than a quarter of a mile away from where Leo, then known as Robert Prevost, grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago.
“Obviously, for us, it’s a special connection. My special prayer for the pope and our city, in particular, is that his home is on the South Side of Chicago, which deserves so much love and uplifting,” Bob Symkowski said. “I’m hoping that a nice round of new energy from the pope might bring new energy, business and commerce to our city and provide us a spiritual uplifting that can help those areas of Chicago.”
Others in the crowd echoed that pride, seeing the moment as a rare convergence of faith and hometown identity. Chleo Catama, a Chicago resident who also volunteers at the Shrine, reflected on what the pope’s election means for the city.
“This is not only a blessing to the world, but a blessing to our city,” she said. “It makes me proud to be from Chicago.”
For some, the celebration also brought a sense of emotional comfort.
“After his election, I feel safer, and it’s kind of like a weight relief,” said Kathy Gillespie, a Lincoln Park resident. “Pope Leo seems like a very wonderful, caring man. And I can tell that by just looking at his face.”
Following the Mass, congregants gathered for a reception and toast in honor of the new pope. The celebration blended joy and reverence, reflecting the hope that Pope Leo XIV’s papacy will bring about a renewed spirit of compassion, justice and unity, both in the Catholic Church and in the city.