Pope Leo's first public message to US at White Sox park after being elected: Put aside ‘egotistical ways' to spread hope
Pope Leo, originally from Chicago's South Side and a longtime supporter of his cherished yet struggling White Sox, sent a video message on Saturday to a sold-out crowd participating in a Catholic Mass held in his honour at their home ballpark. He urged Chicagoans to keep away "egotistical ways" in order to extend hope and work to build community in their hometown.
The pontiff, the first leader of the global Catholic Church from the United States, spoke for nearly seven minutes on Rate Field's jumbotron during the event, organised by the Chicago archdiocese and showcasing numerous other local personalities, comprising Bulls announcer Chuck Swirsky.
"It's a pleasure for me to greet all of you gathered together at White Sox Park on this great celebration," the pope stated in his first public address to the US since his May 8 election whose predecessor was the late Pope Francis.
While speaking in English with a slight Chicago accent, he mentioned, 'We have to look for ways of coming together and promoting a message of hope.'
Hours prior to the event at Rate Field began, people had gathered around the stadium, with kids in White Sox jerseys, hawkers selling "Da Pope" baseball hats, nuns in white and blue habits and priests in their collars.
Saturday's event, led by Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, coincided with nationwide demonstrations, including one at Chicago's Daley Plaza, protesting Trump's crackdown on undocumented immigrants. Meanwhile, a separate protest unfolded in Washington, DC, ahead of the president's 79th birthday celebration, which included a military parade. Pope avoided any political remarks, instead delivering a message of encouragement aimed at young people.
Sister Barbara Reid, president of the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where the pope studied in the 1980s, said she hoped his message might serve to bring greater unity to the US. 'A celebration that's centered on hope and possibility and unity is needed now more than ever before, Hopefully this can be a catalyst to bring us together,' she mentioned.
According to the White Sox, on the first day that tickets became available for Saturday's event, over 10,000 tickets were sold in the first 15 minutes. The Chicago Sun-Times reported tickets, which sold for $5 apiece, came for resale sites like StubHub for over $1,200 just hours after they were out.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Viral: Remembering an emotional moment between Jim Redmond and his Olympian son on Father's day
Image credits: X They say holding hands with each other makes you feel and be stronger. But if there's one person in the world who not only holds your hand since your birth but also holds your entire being through life with their hands behind your back, it's a father. Their silent but symbolic support can carry one through any hurdle of life. One such father was Jim Redmond, who created one of the most iconic and memorable moments in Olympic history. Redmond, whose son Derek was a participant in a 400-meter men's race at the 1992 Games, jumped onto the track to help his injured son and make his way across the finishing line. The father who was just supporting his son through a difficult time in life, helping him complete his dream, is still remembered by people every Father's Day . Derek Redmond- a loved son and famous sprinter Image credits: X Derek Redmond was a popular sprinter from England who was widely supported to win a medal at the 1992 Games in Barcelona. He had been a member of the 1991 English men's relay team which had won the gold at the world championships. He ran the fastest time in his 400-meter qualifying round and won the quarterfinal race in Barcelona. A true father-son moment Image credits: X Derek took his place in the fifth lane for the semi-finals at the Olympic Stadium with some 65,000 people watching, including his father. In the beginning, he was off to a good start and with 250 metres to go and three runners ahead of him, he seemed ready to begin his journey to the finishing line. However, suddenly he reached to the back of his thigh and began hopping. He had pulled his hamstring and crumpled to pain in the ground. While attendees rushed to help he stood back up again and kept on moving ahead even though other runners had crossed the finishing line. 'It was all animal instinct,' he told The New York Times few days after the race. 'I kept thinking I could still catch the other runners. I didn't want to quit. I'm a very selfish person.' The film crew turned to see his father entering the track wearing a Nike cap, blue shorts and a white T-shirt that read "Have you hugged your feet today?" An attendant tried to stop him but he blew him away to move ahead and reach his ailing ceremony. 'You don't have to do this,' Derek recalled his father telling him. 'You don't have to put yourself through this.' But Derek insisted he had to finish, and thus his father said, "we're going to finish this together." 'I don't speak Spanish and I wasn't going to be stopped by anything,' he told the reporters a few days later. By the time they reached the finishing line, the crowd was up and roaring, and the camera crew was surrounding them recording a moment that was not only emotional but also iconic. Social media reactions Image credits: X Recently, a social media account took to X to share the iconic video of Derek and Jim, writing, "No Father's Day is complete without this video." The post which has received 185.9K views made many emotional and teary-eyed online. "holy shit tears. I'm not crying! you're crying!" commented a user under the post. "This is so hard to watch .. the love of a father is beyond words 😢" added another. "Not a lot can bring watery eyes to me but this hit hard" claimed another X user. Many wrote how the moment was the perfect definition of what love is, "What love really is❤️" The video which resurfaces every time around is the perfect definition of a father's love- silent yet bold enough to carry you through it all. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
Kuldeep Yadav expects help for spinners from pitch during IND vs ENG series
As India gear up for their five-match Test series against England starting June 20, Kuldeep Yadav is hopeful that conditions will favour spin as the series progresses. With R. Ashwin now retired from Test cricket, Kuldeep steps in as India's only specialist spinner alongside all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Though he has limited experience in English Tests—having bowled just nine overs in his lone appearance—Kuldeep believes the surfaces will provide opportunities for spinners later in the matches. Observing the intra-squad warm-up match, he noted how the pitch evolved from helping seamers early on to offering turn by the third day, raising his expectations for the series. Growing in Ashwin's Absence, Guided by Jadeja Kuldeep admitted that Ashwin's retirement has been deeply felt in the dressing room, but it has also allowed him to build a closer working relationship with Ravindra Jadeja. The duo have been spending more time together on and off the field. Kuldeep shared that they regularly exchange thoughts on tactics, field placements, and strategies for specific opposition batters. Having two seasoned spinners in the side was once a comfort, but now the left-arm wrist-spinner is adapting to a more prominent role with Jadeja as his mentor. Intra-Squad Game Offers Valuable Preparation India are facing India A in their only red-ball warm-up game before the series. Kuldeep stressed the significance of bowling volume ahead of a long Test series, especially after months of T20 cricket. He said fast bowlers are expected to deliver 15–20 overs in preparation, and spinners too benefit from extended spells to regain rhythm and confidence. Despite the unpredictability of English conditions, Kuldeep remains optimistic. If the sun stays out and pitches wear down, he believes spinners can play a decisive role. New Skipper Impresses with Calm and Clarity Kuldeep also offered praise for new Test captain Shubman Gill. Describing him as composed and highly motivated, he noted that Gill seems ready for the leadership challenge. Having closely observed experienced captains like Rohit Sharma, Gill appears to have absorbed key lessons. Kuldeep said the youngster's focus on maintaining team spirit and clarity in decision-making bodes well for the demanding tour ahead.
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Dale Steyn Predicts Outcome Of England vs India Test Series: "3-2 In Favour Of..."
Team India, under the leadership of a new captain in Shubman Gill, is gearing up for an upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting June 20 in Leeds. Following the Test retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Gill was appointed captain last month, with Rishabh Pant set to be his deputy. The series marks the first Test for Gill as captain, having recently impressed with his leadership in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gill and his men are currently taking part in a behind-closed-doors intra-squad match. Ahead of the first Test in Headingley, Steyn has predicted the series to be a closely contested one, but he backed England to come out on top 3-2. "All games will be close. But all will have a result. I think it will be 3-2 in favour of England. There will be a result in every Test match. There will be no run away win for any team, all five games will be very close," Steyn said on JioHotstar. Reflecting on what would be his leadership approach in the Test series against England, Gill said, "Apart from all the silverware and trophies aside, I would ideally like to build a culture where everyone is very secure and happy." "I know it can be a very difficult environment, especially with all the competition or the number of matches that we play and different squads coming in, but if I am able to do that, that would be my goal," he added. The upcoming India tour of England marks a significant new chapter for Team India as a fresh squad prepares to take on one of cricket's most challenging assignments in English conditions. Historically, India's success in Test series on English soil has been rare, with the team having won a Test series in England only three times in the past 100 years. These landmark victories came in 1971, 1986, and 2007, each time under the leadership of a new or first-time captain - Ajit Wadekar in 1971, Kapil Dev in 1986 and Rahul Dravid in 2007 - highlighting the pivotal role of new leadership in these historic triumphs. India's Test squad for England series: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
