Area parishes relishing new Pope Leo XIV who has local roots, but his ‘message is going to be universal’

Area parishes relishing new Pope Leo XIV who has local roots, but his ‘message is going to be universal’

The elevation of Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost to pope earlier this month has been a point of pride for Chicagoland parishes, including in the north suburbs of Morton Grove, Park Ridge, Niles and Lincolnwood. Now Pope Leo XIV, Prevost is the first pontiff from the United States. He was elected last Thursday to succeed Pope Francis, who died April 21. “He’s a native of the Chicagoland area. That makes us proud,” the Rev. Thomas Baldonieri,…