Thousands went to the first American pope’s old haunt on the South Side of Chicago to hear a message from the man they once knew as Robert Francis Prevost.

Thousands of the faithful are celebrating Pope Leo XIV in a uniquely Chicago way Saturday with an event and mass at Rate Field.

One has danced atop the dugout at Rate Field. Another earned a Topps trading card for throwing a perfect strike. And a third has run the Chicago Marathon 13 consecutive times. Sports is a habit, but their life’s work is a higher calling. They’re nuns.

Al Pacino met with Pope Leo XIV on Monday at the Vatican, in what is the first reported official audience between the first American pope and a movie star. “We are honored to announce that this morning His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received in a private audience at the Holy See a delegation from the