By Margarita Mendoza, El Observador Editor
CHICAGO—Thousands of people congregated June 14 for “Chicago Celebrates Pope Leo XIV,” which the Archdiocese of Chicago described as “a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of the election of the first Chicago-born pope.” It was held at Rate Field, home of the White Sox, Pope Leo’s favorite team.
On that sunny Saturday, people from Chicago and other areas started arriving early to the stadium before the doors opened at 12:30 p.m. The Chicago Catholic, the archdiocesan newspaper, reported over 15,000 attendees.
Among them was one of the priests of the Diocese of Rockford: Father John Evans, pastor of St. Patrick, Dixon.
“It was amazing!” he said. “The energy riding the ‘L’ train down to Sox Park was palpable. A family across from me on the train were celebrating [their] mother’s birthday. She said, ‘Best birthday present ever!’” he added.
Robert Prevost was born in Chicago and raised in Dolton. He entered the Augustinian Order and was ordained a priest in 1982. Starting in 1985, he served in Peru for many years, including a year at a mission in Piura, a decade teaching Augustinian aspirants in Trujillo, and years leading the Diocese of Chiclayo and Callao. He became a cardinal in 2023 and was elected pope May 8, choosing the name Pope Leo XIV.
As the event began, the national anthems of both the United States and Peru honored the pope’s service and dual citizenship in both countries. Speakers who knew the pope shared stories, and the all-male Leo High School choir led songs. The singers were “quite impressive,” Father Evans said.
Father Evans interacted with people in the crowd and was able to answer a question about the Chicago Archdiocese. An eventgoer approached him and asked, “What is the emblem the priests are wearing on
their vestments?”
He explained it was the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Chicago. “It portrays a phoenix rising from the ashes of the Chicago fire. And it also has the Greek initials of Jesus’ Name, IHS, because in His Name, there is always new life.”
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago celebrated the vigil Mass of the feast of the Most Holy Trinity with at least a dozen priests.
In his message, played before the homily, Pope Leo thanked the organizers and addressed his words to young people of Chicago and around the world. “We have to look beyond our own — if you will — egotistical ways. We have to look for ways of coming together and promoting a message of hope. St. Augustine says to us that if we want the world to be a better place, we have to begin with ourselves, we have to begin with our own lives, our own hearts …
“I would like to invite all of you to take a moment, to open up your own hearts to God, to God’s love, to that peace which only the Lord can give us. To feel how deeply beautiful, how strong, how meaningful the love of God is in our lives,” said the pope.
After Pope Leo’s message, Cardinal Cupich gave an “excellent” homily, said
event-goer Luis Sauces. He recalled that the cardinal spoke on “the need to treat every human being with the dignity we deserve because God created all persons, including immigrants, in His Image and likeness.” He and his wife, Natalia, are parishioners of Queen of All Saints Basilica, Chicago.
“The celebration at Rate Field … was a blessing — lots of people in attendance with lots of families with children of all ages. We were there to pray that the Holy Spirit continues guiding our pope,” said Sauces, and he spoke of the “joy that this spiritual celebration produce[s] in us.”
Father Evans mentioned that after the closing hymn, a familiar cheer started playing over the stadium speakers. The crowd started chanting, “Let’s go, Leo! Let’s go!”
