By Jenna MacDermant
In the pope’s hometown of Chicago there’s fierce pride and joy for their native son. At Holy Name Cathedral, a special Mass was held for Pope Leo XIV.
“Let’s take a moment of silence to pray for our new Pope Leo XIV,” the celebrant of the Mass said to parishioners.
It was an overflow crowd for Holy Name Cathedral’s 10:30 Sunday morning Mass.
Kevin Schwehs couldn’t miss the moment.
“We got the pope, we got love, we got sunshine. We got Mother’s Day. We’re winning,” he said.
His mother and a friend of the family, Nancy Cobb, say Pope Leo XIV gives them hope.
“He seems so down to earth and we all need hope,” she said. “I think he will unify a lot of us.”
Alice Villalobos is from Los Angeles and came to Chicago to celebrate her 62nd birthday. She says she’s a proud Catholic, so it was a must to attend Church.
“As soon as it was announced and we were coming here, we gotta come to a Church. And we were going to go to his hometown, but we slept late today,” she told Currents News.
Villalobos also wanted to share in baseball fandom with the pope.
“We’re going to a White Sox game just for him, even though we’re Dodger fans. Go Dodgers,” Villalobos said.
While part of the Mass was dedicated to Pope Leo XIV, many parishioners came to celebrate Mother’s Day.
“I think it’s a combination of both. Also the beautiful spring weather here in Chicago, graduation for college students, so families are in town,” explained. Father Andy Matijevic, director of worship at Holy Name Cathedral. “It’s a great day to celebrate, it’s a great day to be Catholic, and a great day to come together to thank God for the gift of so many things.”