Good morning, Chicago.
The announcement made after white smoke poured from the poured from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel yesterday marked a historic one nationally and a personal one for many in the Chicago area.
Robert Francis Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV after he was elected the first pope from the United States in the history of the Catholic Church, was born at Mercy Hospital on Chicago’s South Side. His Catholic roots were planted in the south suburbs, where he lived in Dolton with his parents and two brothers. He was raised in St. Mary of the Assumption parish on the Far South Side, attending school, singing in the choir and serving as an altar boy.
The Tribune spoke with family members who shared memories of Prevost playing “pretend priest,” former St. Mary’s classmates who said he was “the pride and joy of every priest and nun in that school,” and a lifelong friend who attended his ordination in Rome.
We also heard from advocates for clergy sexual abuse survivors who were questioned his commitment to protecting the church’s youngest members, citing how he handled two sex abuse cases involving Augustinian priests in the area.
And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including what the Chicago school board president said of the district’s $529 million cash crunch, the Bears’ latest deal finalized and what to do in Chicago this weekend.
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Pope Leo XIV celebrates first Mass as pope, says his election is a cross and a blessing
Pope Leo XIV said today that his election was both a cross and a blessing as he celebrated his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel.
Leo spoke off-the-cuff in English to the cardinals who elected him to lead the Catholic Church and follow in Pope Francis’ social justice-minded footsteps. He acknowledged the great responsibility they had placed on him before delivering a brief but dense homily on the need to joyfully spread Christianity in a world that often mocks it.
The White Sox, Aurelio’s Pizza and St. Mary’s Mass: A South Sider becomes pope
While growing up in the Chicago area, Robert Prevost often played “pretend priest,” his older brother John Prevost recalled following the announcement. The younger brother would set up a table draped in a white cloth and recite prayers.
“He did that all the time. He took it totally serious, it was not a game,” John Prevost said Thursday outside his home in New Lenox.
John Prevost described his brother as someone with a natural calmness and deep patience, a person who was always drawn to others. He believes these qualities have shaped his path to becoming pope. His younger brother embodies the spirit of a “second Pope Francis,” particularly in his compassion for immigrants and the poor.
- Editorial: Welcome, Pope Leo XIV, Chicago’s Holy Father
- Pope Leo XIV has shared criticism of Donald Trump and JD Vance on social media. See the posts here.
Pope Leo XIV’s family: What to know about his parents and their deep Chicago ties
Here’s a look at what we discovered about some of Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV’s family members in the Tribune archives.
- What’s in a name? Pope Leo XIV’s choice signals a commitment to social justice
- Newly named Pope Leo XIV has Creole roots in New Orleans, genealogist says
President Trump fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden
Carla Hayden, whose 10-year term was set to expire next year, had come under backlash from a conservative advocacy group that accused her and other library leaders of promoting children’s books with “radical” content and literary material authored by Trump opponents.
US retires database tracking billions of dollars of climate change-fueled weather damage
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is retiring its public database meant to keep track of the cost of losses from climate change-fueled weather disasters including floods, heat waves, wildfires and more. It is the latest example of changes to the agency and the Trump administration limiting federal government resources on climate change.
Chicago school board president talks cuts and uncertainty with principals: ‘You need to understand what I’m grappling with’
School board President Sean Harden was not shy about directly addressing Chicago Public Schools’ $529 million cash crunch, saying he wants community input while making tough decisions about cuts for the upcoming school year. Despite extensive unknowns looming in the months and years ahead, he remained positive.
Is Pope Leo XIV — the Chicago-born new pontiff — a Cubs or White Sox fan?
It didn’t take long for Chicago Cubs fans to welcome the first American pope into their arms, or for White Sox fans to claim him as their own.
The Wrigley Field marquee changed to “Hey, Chicago, He’s a Cubs fan!” after the news yesterday afternoon. But the Sox might have a better claim. His brother, John Prevost, told the Tribune that the new pope was “always a Sox fan.”
Chicago White Sox match the worst 38-game start in franchise history. 3 takeaways from the 4-game sweep.
The Sox were swept in the four-game series. And in the process, they fell to 10-28 to match the worst start in franchise history through 38 games. They share the distinction with the 2024 and 2018 clubs. Last year’s team went on to set the modern major-league record with 121 defeats.
Here are three takeaways from the four games.
Colston Loveland signs 4-year contract with Chicago Bears, who also finalize deals with Day 3 draft picks
The Chicago Bears have signed first-round pick Colston Loveland to a four-year contract with a fifth-year option. The team also announced Thursday afternoon that it has finalized four-year deals with each of its four Day 3 draft picks — Ruben Hyppolite, Zah Frazier, Luke Newman and Kyle Monangai.
- What to know about the Chicago Bears’ 10 undrafted free agent additions
- Naperville’s Payton Thorne, named after Chicago Bears great Walter Payton, gets his first shot in the NFL
Meet Jim Downey, the Joliet guy who had the secret sauce to transform 50 years of ‘SNL’
Comedy writer Jim Downey is full of words, all words, strange words, Latin words, Midwest words, funny words, the perfect words.
“To write something with Jim means moving slowly, selecting the correct word, noting the comma here, the unnecessary adverb there,” says John Mulaney, a true believer.
Downey, you see, contains words the way a flood contains water. He’s 72, and despite more than 50 years as a revered godhead of comedy writing, the riverbed has never run dry.
James Beard Foundation announces 2025 media award finalists, next cohort of Taste America chefs
The James Beard Foundation announced its list of book and media finalists for the James Beard Awards, which included Chicago native Ashok Selvam, regional editor for Eater Midwest.
The nominees for its book, broadcast media and journalism awards celebrate digital and traditional media — radio, television broadcasts, podcasts, documentaries, online sites, social media — covering food and beverage topics published or self-published in 2024.
What to do in Chicago: Katy Perry, Rauw Alejandro and a monster convention in Rosemont
Also happening: Mel Robbins, best-selling author of “The Let Them Theory,” will offer advice live in person and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago will host it’s final installment of its Family Day series.
