American-Born Pope Leo XIV Makes First Vatican-Area Shrine Visit

Pope Leo XIV, formerly U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost and the first American-born pope, was elected in May 2025 and has quickly become a figure of historic significance both globally and in his hometown of Chicago. His Chicago roots and relatively young age have sparked hopes among local Catholics for a papal visit reminiscent of Pope John Paul II's 1979 appearance in Grant Park, which drew massive crowds. Shortly after his election, Pope Leo XIV made his first trip outside the Vatican to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy, a site run by his Augustinian order, where he prayed for guidance and received public cheers. He has expressed a commitment to continuing the reforms and vision of the late Pope Francis, emphasizing service and modernization of the Catholic Church. Meanwhile, Pope Leo's family, including his brother John Prevost, traveled to Rome to reunite with him during this historic moment, underscoring the personal and public significance of his papacy. The new pope’s actions and background continue to inspire both local and international interest as he begins his tenure leading the 1.4-billion-member Church.