Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday. Francis made history in his own right as the first Jesuit Pope, as well as the first non-European Pope. He held papancy from 2013 through 2025, and was known and respected for his progressivism when compared to previous pontiffs.

Pope Leo XIV is fast becoming an icon in Chicago, bringing hope that he will shine light on working class heroes everywhere.