CHICAGO (WLS) — The city of Chicago celebrated the first American pope on Saturday.
Pope Leo XIV offered a special video message at the home of the Chicago White Sox.
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He was known as Robert Prevost on the city’s South Side and is a known White Sox fan. Earlier this week he was spotted wearing a White Sox hat.
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich led the sold-out Mass at Rate Field. Chicago Bulls announcer Chuck Swirsky emceed the program.
Gates opened at 12:30 p.m., the program began at 2:30 p.m. and the Mass started at 4 p.m.
ABC7 Chicago live streamed the event for those unable to attend the event.
The celebration included music, film, in-person testimonials and prayers.
A video shows Pope Leo in the crowd at the 2005 World Series game at the Southwest Side ballpark now known as Rate Field, commonly called Sox Park.
Pope Leo XIV will make a virtual appearance in his hometown of Chicago on Saturday.
Saturday’s celebration and Mass was an unforgettable experience for the Chicago faithful.
Many lined up to receive communion right on the field.
It was a spiritual experience unlike any other at Rate Field as 30,000 people gathered, not for baseball, but for a blessing.
Faithful piled into the South Side ballpark for the first-of-its-kind blessing, including
“I will never have the opportunity to have Mass at a ballpark ever,” Rose and Eric Carlson said.
Many came dressed in all sorts of papal garb, including Grace and Janice Carpenter, to mimic perhaps the most famous White Sox fan in the world.
“We made them last night,” Carpenter said. “We ironed on all the letters, so it says ‘Pope Leo the 14th’ on the back, and then we made transition hats of what Pope Leo started as.”
Fans took turns taking pictures in the very seat then-Father Bob sat in when he attended the World Series back in 2005.
“I am sitting in Pope Leo’s seat,” Sandy Beierwaltes said. “Oh it feels amazing.”
A member of the Augustinian Midwest Province before he became leader of the Church, Pope Leo’s fellow Augustinians, who have known him for years, were beaming with pride Saturday.
“We feel blessed that one of our own and the first American first Augustinian is now Leo XIV, and for amazing reasons,” said Fr. Anthony Benedetto Pizzo with the Augustinian Provincial of the Midwest.
In an unprecedented blend of faith and technology, the new pontiff delivered a video message from Vatican City that was projected onto stadium screens.
The full video message from the Vatican can be viewed here.
“To have an opportunity to celebrate our faith in such an amazing way I think is awesome,” Eric Carlson said.
It was a historic citywide celebration Catholics say they never thought they’d experience in their lifetime.
“We welcome him and he’s already welcomed from Chicago, so what a beautiful moment for all of us,” attendee Judy Young said.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy students, who went viral for their mock conclave, also took to the stage alongside Cardinal Cupich.
After winning the hearts of many on America’s Got Talent., the ever-talented Leo High School Choir performed the National Anthem.
“All I can feel is inspired and proud of being Catholic,” attendee Gisele Garcia said. “The altar and having Mass and receiving communion among all these people I think is really cool.”
Cardinal Cupich delivered an inspiring homily during the traditional Catholic Mass that followed.
“The younger generation is being drawn towards this, where they’ve said, ‘I feel like I had to come back to church and I’m finding hope,'” attendee Patty Rimkus said. “I hope there’s hope.”
It was safe to say it was a spiritual experience unlike any other here at Rate Field, and one the fans won’t soon forget.
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