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The Archdiocese of Chicago has announced a special event to honor Pope Leo XIV, featuring a Mass and program on June 14. The celebration will include a video message from the pope, who hails from Chicago, directed at young people worldwide. This message will be broadcast for the first time during the event.
"Pope Leo XIV will greet us in Chicago and offer a special video message to the young people of the world, which will be broadcast first from our event," stated the Archdiocese on its website.
The event is set to take place at Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, which can accommodate approximately 40,000 attendees. The day's schedule includes music, film screenings, speakers, and prayer before the Mass begins.
In an earlier statement, the archdiocese remarked on Pope Leo XIV's impact: "Pope Leo XIV’s message of peace, unity and the key to a meaningful life have touched hearts across the globe. This celebration is an extraordinary opportunity for people from the city and beyond to come together in shared pride for one of our own."
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich has extended an invitation via YouTube for public participation in this significant occasion.
In addition to religious festivities, there are lighter moments connected with Pope Leo's fondness for baseball. The White Sox have extended an open invitation for him to attend games or even throw out a first pitch. Brooks Boyer from the White Sox commented: "Heck, maybe we’ll let him get an at-bat."
Pope Leo XIV grew up in Dolton, Illinois—a suburb south of Chicago—and has been a lifelong fan of both local baseball teams due to his missionary work in Peru. His brother Louis Prevost recalled his passion for baseball: "He was big into baseball... He was a big Sox fan."
Before becoming pope, Robert J. Prevost worked extensively as a missionary and held various roles within his religious order. He served as prior general of the Order of St. Augustine before being appointed by Pope Francis as bishop and later cardinal.
His episcopal motto is “In Illo uno unum,” reflecting his focus on unity during his papacy.
This article was written by Simone Orendain for OSV News from Chicago.
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