Pope Leo XIV joins Chicago's Icon Hall of Fame
CHICAGO — Chicago's history is filled with larger-than-life personalities, but no Chicagoan has achieved quite the mix of fame and faith that Pope Leo has.
From the Red Line to the skyline, and from comedians to coaches, Chicago is a city of icons.
The Windy Cindy is the long-term home of the world's best basketball player, Michael Jordan, and the nation's biggest TV star, Oprah.
It's the birthplace of Disney and deep dish, and the home of the first Black president and now the first American pope.
'I never knew until recently that the pope has never been from the U.S., let alone Chicago. I think it's cool, really cool,' Andrew Billups said.
Pope Leo XIV was on the front of nearly every newspaper worldwide. His face is already one of the most recognizable in the world. Chicago is also taking center stage on late night TV.
'Regardless of your beliefs, I think it's pretty cool that Chicago's getting represented on a global scale,' Molly Meinhart said.
In front of another Chicago icon — the Wrigley Field Marquee — Meinhart says the pope will take his place in a long line of Chicago icons.
'It's pretty cool piecing together all of the things that have always been famous and now new famous things. I can say I lived in Chicago when we got the pope,' Meinhart said.
One of Chicago's signature hot dog stands, the Weiner's Circle, paid tribute to the pope.
'I think it's incredible. I hope he'll be an excellent representative of the city and the needs of Americans and Catholics worldwide,' Matt Ott said.
Chicago embraced the pope in t-shirts, social media memes and sandwiches. Sports fans have attended Bears games dressed as Mike Ditka. Now, baseball fans are coming to Sox games as the pope.
'I saw a meme about the Bean being placed in the Vatican, I thought it was a funny thing. It's important that it's a new place for America in the world,' Liya Johny said.
In Dolton, William Nowling lives next to the pope's childhood home. He knows his block is a landmark because it once sheltered Chicago's newest icon.
'I hope he at least visits the block again,' he said. 'I hope the pope moves back here. That'd be too much of a stretch, but I hope they leave it as a landmark.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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