Travel
Chicagoans Journey To Rome To Celebrate Hometown Pope Leo XIV At Formal Papal Installation
Born and bred in the Beverly neighborhood, Roccasalva made a last-minute decision to come to Rome and attend Pope Leo's inaugural Mass.
May 19, 2025
The Vatican was already crowded with tourists and pilgrims on Saturday, but tens of thousands are expected on Sunday, and perhaps as many as 100,000 for Pope Leo's inaugural Mass, and Chicagoans have made the journey to Rome to represent their hometown pope.
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Among the tourists drawn to the marvels of St Peter's Square and the faithful making time for spiritual reflection was a contingent of Chicagoans celebrating the first American pope.
"As I let it sink in, and it hit actually my heart, I actually started crying tears of absolute joy," Father Joe Roccasalva said of the election of Chicago native Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new pope.
