Catholics in the region celebrate the historic announcement that the first American pope in 2,000 years of history of the church was born and grew up in the Chicago region.
In his first words as Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost announced “Peace Be With You”, invoking Thursday a message of dialogue and care for those who need the city of the Vatican.
“When I heard the news of the new Saint-Fère at that time, at least here in Chicago, the sun is released,” said Reverend Greg Sakowicz, rector of the Cathedral Holy Name.
Some would say that sunny time was only a coincidence, recognized Sakowicz.
But “a coincidence is the way God remains anonymous,” he added.
The Catholic roots of Prevost were planted in the southern suburbs of Chicago, where he lived in Dolton with his parents and two brothers. He grew up in the parish of St. Mary of Assumption in the far south, attending school there and as an altar boy.
Marianne Angarola, 69, who was in the same class as Prevost, remembers him as a good singer who “cared for people” and “sought good in things”.
St. Mary closed and entered a state of dilapidation, she said. But the angarola and others followed his career, following on the internet for updates while he was rose in the ranks of the church.
“He was the pride and joy of each priest and nun of this school,” said the angarola. “Everyone knew he was special.”
Another classmate from St. Mary, Peggy Wurtz, remembered sing at midnight with her mother, who was also a talented singer. Wurtz said she was intimidated by her intelligence, even in primary school. During their fifth year scientific show, Wurtz remembers having been embarrassed to answer a question about his dental caries project in front of Prevost, who was more skillful to explain his work.
“He won the first prize,” said Wurtz.
The 1969 promotion has an annual meeting, and she hopes they will be able to see it one later.
“I think we should have a class meeting in Rome to have us all at the same time,” said Wurtz.
His father, Louis, was an educator who headed the Glenwood 167 school district and was director of the Mount Carmel elementary school in Chicago Heights, who was closed in 1990. He died in 1997, according to his Bill.
His mother, Mildred, was a librarian who worked at the Cathedral Holy Name, at the Von Steuben high school on the north side and the Catholic preparation of Mendel. She died in 1990, after decades of service at St. Mary church.
After graduating from St. Mary’s in 1969, Prevost frequented St. Augustine Seminary High School in Michigan. He briefly lived in the now closed seminar of tolentine in Olympia Fields before attending the University of Villanova.
He was ordered a priest in Rome and studied there until 1984, shuttle between the church management positions in Chicago and Peru until 2023.
Prévost, a longtime missionary and a member of the Augustinian religious order, made its first appearance on the loggia of the Saint-Pierre basilica Thursday bearing the traditional red cape of the papacy.
Prévost, 69, was at the head of the Augustinians from 2001 to 2013, based in Rome. He was also chief of the province of the Order of Chicago and in 2014 was appointed apostolic administrator and then bishop of Chiclayo, in northern Peru, in a region where the Augustinian Chicago have long been present.
In 2023, his predecessor, Pope Francis, appointed Prévost to take over the bishops of the Vatican bishops who opened the nominations around the world of a retired Canadian who had recently been accused of sexual fault. The Critical Office of Saint-Veille also investigates allegations of abuse or negligence against the bishops.
“This is a historic day,” said Robert Orsi, professor of religion at the Northwestern University. “Robert Francis Prevost was a favorite of Pope Francis, who made him cardinal only two years ago. The namesake of the new Pope, Leo XIII, was known for his frank defense of workers’ rights to a decent salary. By taking this name, Pope Leo XIV clearly signals his priorities. From the beginning of the 21st century, which spent most of its 69 years outside the United States, already seems to remind Catholics to a really global and really open faith. »»
Thursday, nearly 100 people were at noon at the Holy Name cathedral in Chicago. Towards the end of the service, the rector announced who was the pope – a born in the United States of Chicago. The crowd broke out in applause.
Julie Bartholomae of Lincoln Park came out to take a call from her sister, who told her the name of the Pope.
Her eyes were on when she discovered that the new chief of more than a billion Catholics in the world was from Chicago.
“I think it’s so exciting-an American pope and he’s from Chicago,” she said.
The announcement of a new pope brought Katherine Gehl, parishioner of Holy Name, Tears of Happiness. She returned to the house of the gymnasium when she heard the news and ran to Holy Name.
“It was extraordinary to be here, you know, in the presence of other Catholics,” she said. “All I can say is that I just pray that this pope will bring a call to unity. This is what we need, because we have so many challenges in the world and in division, we do not solve them. They will only be resolved in the unit. “
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
