Tickets for Chicago celebration for Pope Leo now on sale
CHICAGO (WGN) – A celebration of the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first pope born in the United States and Chicago, will be held at Rate Field in June.
Tickets are now on sale on June 14 event at Rate Field. Tickets can be purchased for $5 on Ticketmaster
The event will feature music, film, in-person testimonials and prayers. A Catholic Mass will then be held after the program.
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, grew up in south suburban Dolton and his childhood home is now up for auction.
The pope, a White Sox fan as confirmed by his brother, was also spotted in the Rate Field stands (then U.S. Cellular Field) during Game 1 of the 2005 World Series against the Houston Astros. The 'Don't Stop Believin'' White Sox swept the Astros that year in the Fall Classic, winning their first World Series Championship since 1917.
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Catholic students find refuge at Princeton University's worship space and cheer new pope
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On May 8, Catholic students were worshipping as usual at daily Mass in the side chapel when the service was interrupted by news alerts on their phones. In the Vatican, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new leader of their faith had been elected. The Rev. Zachary Swantek, Princeton's Catholic chaplain, told the group to gather at the Catholic Ministry office. Together, they watched on TV as the election of the first U.S.-born pope was announced. 'It was electric,' Nelson said, adding there was 'uproar' in the room when Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost became the 267th pontiff. 'It was so cool to see an American pope.' Like other members of the Catholic ministry, he is hopeful that Pope Leo XIV will help bring a revival for Catholicism in America. 'I feel that there's a resurgence of Catholicism today,' said Nelson, who was religiously unaffiliated until last year when he converted to Catholicism. 'You see people who are passionate about their faith. 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Los Angeles Times
4 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
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Much like their box office appeal, their social media reach extends into the millions as well. Their antics — choreographed dances, lip-synced walk-ups, backflip outfield catches — have attracted nearly 10 million followers on TikTok, almost double the combined total of the Dodgers and Angels. That viral mastery, and the parasocial bonds it fosters, is part of what makes every game feel tight-knit. With his glove by his side, hoping to catch a foul ball for an out — one of the many offbeat rules of Banana Ball — Michael Schulties was disappointed he missed his favorite player, RobertAnthony Cruz, whom he first discovered on social media through his baseball coaching channel, better known as 'Coach RAC.' Cruz, who drew the longest meet-and-greet line, is a former minor leaguer in the Nationals' farm system and a local — born just an hour away in Fontana. The game was a homecoming for Cruz, who joined the Bananas in 2023. With more than 70 family members and friends in attendance — and even more social media direct messages asking for tickets — playing in big league stadiums has become a dream come true, especially for a former minor leaguer whose baseball ambitions nearly died when he never got the call to the show. Behind all the gimmicks, wackiness and absurdity, the roster is still filled with ballplayers — many of them with unrealized MLB dreams — now finding a second life through Banana Ball. And for Cruz, it's the happiest he's ever been in the sport. 'I never would have imagined playing in this capacity,' Cruz said. 'Banana Ball didn't even exist when I was pursuing my dream of professional baseball. To be here, to see a sold-out crowd at a stadium that I went to growing up all the time, it's very special.' As the team travels the nation, sold-out crowds and newfound stardom have become the norm for Cruz. 'I'm not surprised by anything anymore,' Cruz said. 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Yes, the Savannah Bananas' brand of baseball is far too outlandish ever to be compared to the major leagues — from flaming baseballs, rump-shaking umps and dress rehearsals. That's the point. It all feels like something conjured from the wildest dreams of the late Bill Veeck's imagination found a home, in a good way. With many of the Banana Ball's 11 rules — like an automatic strike when hitters step out of the box or ejecting bunting hitters because bunting 'sucks' — are grounded in some sports-based logic, the innovations remain sacrilegious to baseball purists. But for a fleeting moment in December, Major League Baseball and Banana Ball were almost linked. In Banana Ball, the Golden Batter rule allows teams, once per game, to send their best hitter to the plate regardless of where they fall in the batting order. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred caused a stir when he floated a potential seismic rule by floating, making an offhand comment about the golden batter rule. Manfred later clarified it was merely 'a very preliminary conversation' among members of the league's competition committee and had not been formally discussed by the full ownership group. A far-fetched idea, but Manfred has ushered in sweeping changes, from the widely praised pitch clock to the more contentious extra-inning 'ghost runner.' 'Anything that's best for the fans, I'm all in,' Cole said of its potential. 'I know Major League Baseball won't do it because of traditions, but ... we've had a lot of fun doing it.' But MLB would be behind the Bananas, who already introduced their version of the rule last season with a typical flair and showmanship. Their spin on it is a batter summoned from the dugout wearing a James Brown-esque cape and a gleaming golden helmet — an honor that went to Joe Lytle, who came to bat in the top of the ninth for the Bananas' Anaheim opponent, the Firefighters. Ultimately, in a game where the score isn't the end-all, be-all — but the fun is — the Bananas beat the Firefighters 5–2. Like any other Bananas game, the festivities took center stage. It began with the 'First Peel,' a signature ceremony in which a young fan bites into a banana to declare whether it's good or bad — setting the tone for the night. Heisman Trophy winner and USC legend Matt Leinart threw out the ceremonial first spiral (because, of course, he did). And in true fashion, Angels World Series MVP Troy Glaus made a surprise cameo as a pinch hitter. But what was more important was the trip to Anaheim, a fitting one for Cole and Co. The team that opened its season lip-syncing 'Be Our Guest' from the Disney classic 'Beauty and the Beast' — and its owner, cut from the same theatrical cloth as Disney — were celebrated a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth — Disneyland. Greeted by fans in yellow gear, Cole's creation — the Bananas — marched in step down Main Street U.S.A., alongside Walt's own — Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck. 'When I walked underneath the castle and over the bridge and in front of thousands of people, they were all there for us,' Cole said. 'Then I look and see Walt's statue, holding the hand of Mickey, and I see that and I'm like, 'This is special.'' It was a full-circle moment for Cole, who became 'immersed in the magic' after his first trip to Disney World as a kid — and who now says, 'In a perfect world, I'd play catch with Walt on Main Street.' Serendipity. 'For me, that was an emotional moment — to know that we have worked so hard to create something that means something to people, that they come from all over the country just for a chance to see us,' Cole added.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
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Today in Chicago History: Same-sex couples receive marriage licenses for the first time in Illinois
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 1, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Here are Chicago's hottest days — with temperatures of 100 degrees or higher — on record Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 102 degrees (1934) Low temperature: 37 degrees (1993) Precipitation: 1.62 inches (1947) Snowfall: None 1924: WDAP radio station was renamed WGN by the Tribune in honor of the paper's slogan — World's Greatest Newspaper. The station broadcast from The Drake. Among WGN's first broadcasts was the Memorial Day 500-mile classic in Indianapolis. 1984: The Delta Air Lines complex opened at O'Hare International Airport. Consisting of a 391-foot addition to Terminal 3 and a 740-foot Concourse L, it was the first new passenger area constructed since the airport opened 22 years earlier. The project was part of a $1 billion modernization program. 2011: For the first time in Illinois history, gay and lesbian couples obtained civil unions. Many of the same rights married counterparts received — including sharing a nursing home room, visiting a loved one in a hospital, preventing those in the union from testifying against each other in court, funeral and end-of-life decisions, inheritance of property and certain employment-related benefits such as insurance — now applied to same-sex couples who were united in civil unions. Illinois became the sixth state to recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. Another five states and the District of Columbia already allowed gay marriage. 2014: Marriage licenses were available for same-sex couples for the first time in the state as part of the Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. The new law changed the definition of marriage in Illinois from an act between a man and a woman to one between two people. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn put his signature on the historic measure in November 2013. The action made Illinois the 16th state to allow same-sex marriage, capping a 40-year push for gay rights that picked up major momentum during the previous decade. Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@ and mmather@