Pope Leo's Chicago Roots: His Grandfather's Intriguing Immigration Tale

Will Pope Leo improve Chicago’s image? From ‘O Block’ to hot dogs, Vatican tourists share what they know

VATICAN CITY — When 15-year-old Maria Izworska from Poland hears the word Chicago, the first thing that comes to mind is “O Block,” the notoriously high-crime strip of South King Drive that’s been immortalized in rap songs and social media.

Will Pope Leo improve Chicago’s image? From ‘O Block’ to hot dogs, Vatican tourists share what they know.

VATICAN CITY — When 15-year-old Maria Izworska from Poland hears the word Chicago, the first thing that comes to mind is “O Block,” the notoriously high-crime strip of South King Drive that’s been immortalized in rap songs and social media. “I also think about food,” said the teen, who was sitting on the steps of St. Peter’s Square on a recent weekday while on a trip to the Vatican. “I think about corn dogs and hot dogs.” But now that Chicago ca…

Pope's legacy tied to race, Chicago's Black community

Pope Leo XIV and I are both descendants of the Great Migration.Our grandparents journeyed to Chicago from the South as part of a wave of Black families seeking a better life in the North. His mother’s Creole people hailed from Louisiana. Mine moved from Tennessee and Georgia. We’re both native South Siders.This does not mean the pontiff can come to the mythical cookout that Black folks fervently pass out invitations to like a deck of Spades card…

Pope Leo's Chicago roots: His grandfather's intriguing immigration tale

CHICAGO — Pope Leo's connection to Chicago is by now well known to the masses but long before he was born and raised in Dolton, his ancestors left the old world of Italy to begin a new life in America. Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Mariyana t. Spyropoulos started at adeep dive into the genealogy as soon after Pope Keo was chosen. Before his ascension to lead the Catholic Church, he was known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, or “Father Bob,” as his …

Cook Country archives show Pope Leo XIV's grandfather immigrated from Italy to US

Pope Leo's grandfather was born in Italy in 1876 and came to the United States in 1905, eventually making his way to Chicago. His grandson took the opposite route, starting in Chicago and moving to Italy.