Pope Leo XIV is not just the first American pope. He's a Chicagoan
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Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, was born in Chicago and grew up in south suburban Dolton.
Why it matters: Formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, he now heads the Catholic Church, which has some 1.4 billion members worldwide. But Pope Leo's power will transcend the faith community as he assumes a role with vast diplomatic and social influence.
Flashback: Prevost entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) in 1977 and continued his education at the Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park.
- He's a member of the Augustine Order and was director of formation at the Saint Augustine Convent in Chicago as well as vocation director at Mother of Good Counsel in Olympia Fields, according to his Vatican biography.
- The order is based on community life and service. Leo was a missionary in Peru for many years.
- There are accusations that, during Leo's leadership of the Augustinian Province of Chicago in 2000, the province allowed a priest facing child sex abuse allegations to live near a school.
Between the lines: The new pope is generally seen to be continuing the more progressive stances that Pope Francis voiced — a more open, inclusive church focused on giving voice to the voiceless.
What they're saying: Some local Catholics appreciate that approach.
- "Be representatives for every walk of life, and be able to represent a strong front when it comes to respecting people, other religions," Chicago Catholic Sean Garvey told Axios. "There's a lot of hate going around in the world. It's important to show that we ... can be an example of how to treat people."
Zoom in: Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of the Chicago Archdiocese, was one of the voting members of the conclave, but he didn't express what exact qualities he was looking for with the next pope, according to Bishop Larry Sullivan.
- "I would say that he entered into the conclave completely open to the movement of the Holy Spirit. I would say that he did not go in with an agenda," Sullivan said Thursday at Holy Name Cathedral.
- Sullivan said Cupich's main concerns are "building up a sense of parish vitality, working towards making sure that everybody can have an opportunity to have a personal relationship with the Lord."
On the significance of the name: "Most heartening to me is his choice of name, which obviously contains an allusion to Leo XIII, and his famous text Rerum Novarum. This supported labor rights and unions in the church at the dawn of the contemporary world," Loyola University scholar Michael Canaris tells Axios.
- "The name Leo (was) from previous popes, especially the last Pope Leo, the 13th — heavily into social justice, preferential treatment for the poor, the rights of the voiceless. I think it's very important," Father Gregory Sakowicz told reporters Thursday at Holy Name Cathedral. "I think he's gonna be very strong on the immigrants, human rights and the earth."
Reality check: Despite the Cubs claiming him, Leo is a Sox fan his brother told NBC News.
What's next: Holy Name Cathedral is hosting a special Mass to celebrate Pope Leo XIV at 8am Friday.