Latest news with #LeoHighSchool
CBS News
20 hours ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Pope Leo XIV delivers message of hope on video played at Rate Field celebration
Pope Leo XIV delivered a message of hope by video message on Saturday at a celebration and mass at Rate Field, honoring the papacy of the city's native son. In an eight-minute video played during the celebration at Rate Field, Pope Leo XIV urged Catholic faithful to be a "light of hope," to serve others, and to make the world a better place. "As you gather today in this great celebration, I want to both express my gratitude to you, and also an encouragement to continue to build up community, friendship as brothers and sisters in your daily lives, in your families, in your parishes, in the Archdiocese, and throughout our world," the pope said. "When I see each and every one of you, when I see how people gather together to celebrate their faith, I discover myself how much hope there is in the world in this jubilee year of hope." The event was emceed by Chicago Bulls announcer Chuck Swirsky. Cardinal Blase Cupich was the main celebrant and homilist at the Catholic Mass that was the final element of the celebration. The Chicago Archdiocese estimated some 30,000 people bought tickets to the celebration. It was a packed program that included interviews with the Pope's former classmate and former college professor, and songs of praise from the choir at Leo High school. CBS News Chicago's Dorothy Tucker spoke to people at the celebration about their impressions of the pope's message. "I think the fact that he's reaching out to the youth across the world," Chris Poindexter said. "You can tell that he really cares. I mean it's hot in this stadium today. I know I felt that everyone got chills," Beatrice Poindexter said. The event also included an invitation from the Chicago White Sox for Pope Leo XIV to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at a future White Sox game. The pope — a lifelong White Sox fan — was in the stands in Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, and earlier this week donned a White Sox cap given to him as a gift at the Vatican. Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost, was elected May 8, becoming the first U.S.-born pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic church.
CBS News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Viral Chicago high school choir video leads to "America's Got Talent" audition
Audrina Sinclair's viral video posted after her visit to Leo High School last February caught the attention of producers at "America's Got Talent." The Instagram Reel has over 2.7 million views and features the Leo High School choir on Chicago's South Side. "Leo is infectious," Sinclair said. "The young men inspire me, and the choir made me feel something. I'm so excited that the positive power of social media did its thing for the Leo boys! They deserved to be heard around the world." The local choir flew to Los Angeles for an audition. The school hosted a watch party to cheer on the choir members during their big audition. "Many of them had never flown before. So just the experience of flying for the first time, and obviously the venue, the platform, the discipline it takes to prepare for something of this magnitude," Leo High School music teacher Ladonna Hill said. Elyssa Kaufman Elyssa is a digital news producer for CBS Chicago. She covers breaking news and manages the station's social media presence. contributed to this report.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
South Side high school holds prayer service for new pope who shares same name, hometown
CHICAGO — A South Side high school and the new pope share more than just a hometown. They share a name, too. Leo High School, an all-boys Catholic school located at 7901 South Sangamon Street in Auburn Gresham, held a special prayer service Monday for Pope Leo XIV, the pontiff who shares a papal name and a South Side lineage with the school. Pope Leo XIV: WGN's full coverage In fact, the school is named after the new pope's predecessor in name, Pope Leo XIII. He was the head of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903 and the last Pope Leo before the current one, South Side native Robert Prevost, chose it for his papal name to become Pope Leo XIV. For the record, the first Pope Leo, now known as St. Leo the Great, led the Catholic Church during the middle of the 5th century, from 440-61. 'This is nuts': How Louis Prevost learned his brother had become pope Leo High School will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, school president Dan McGrath saying its namesake, Pope Leo XIII, 'was remembered as a champion for human rights, civil rights and the rights of working people.' Now, the current Pope Leo is more than a namesake to the high school. 'Though many of us do not come from Catholic backgrounds, our identity, our history and our mission as a Catholic school defines who we are here are Leo High School,' McGrath said during Monday's prayer service. 'And along with Pope Leo's Chicago roots, we celebrate the name he has chosen.' Pope Leo XIV delivers first Sunday noon blessing, patrons at Chicago church embrace message of Chicago-born pontiff Father Michael Pfleger of nearby Saint Sabina Church also spoke at the high school Monday, telling students that a South Side native is now one of the most well-known people in the world. They, too, can dream big and become South Side natives who go on to achieve their own great things, Pfleger implored. 'Everybody in the world right now is talking about a kid from the South Side of Chicago,' he said. '… As I look around this room, they ain't seen nothing yet.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exelon CEO Calvin Butler inspires Leo High School students to forge a better future
CHICAGO (WGN) — In the heart of Chicago's Auburn Gresham neighborhood, at 79th and Sangamon, you'll find Leo High School, where the past and present are intersecting to make a better future for students attending the educational institution now in its 99th year. The 2025 Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Fair aims to help Leo Lions like sophomores Asa Harris and Justin Hunt consider the possibilities of entrepreneurship and more. Enter Exelon CEO Calvin Butler, one of only eight Black CEOs of a Fortune 500 company. In his third year visiting with the students at Leo, the East St. Louis native shared his experience growing up in neighborhoods that closely resemble Chicago's, and the motivation to forge a different path. MORE FROM WGN'S PATRICK ELWOOD: 'As the first one in my family to graduate from college and then to be sitting in this seat, it means something more than just running a large company,' Butler said. 'It's about, 'What am I doing to give back to the communities in which we serve?' 'Which is why we are here at Leo High School. I want these young men to see that there's opportunities, not everyone has to have family members that grow up and were CEO's, lawyers and doctors and so forth. I just happen to be a lawyer, but you can do anything you want to if you focus and really drive toward excellence.' This is part of Exelon's bigger effort to get into Chicago schools. In conjunction with the Big Shoulders Fund, a Chicago nonprofit, Butler brought his team from Exelon and ComEd to mentor the young men. School principal Dr. Shaka Rawls says what the young men learn here is as important as any lesson they will receive in their four years at Leo. 'He inspires each one of my students to try to be a little bit better,' he said. 'We always say that we want to be 1% better here at Leo High School, and he shows them what 1% better every day could possibly be.' Leo's motto, Facta Non Verba, which means deeds, not words, resonates with students like Harris and Hunt, as does Butler's story. 'It gives us inspiration,' Harris said. 'It's pushing us to the right path and leading us the right way. [Butler's] backstory, it really enlightens us a little bit.' Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Leo High School boasts a 100% graduation rate for the 12th consecutive year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
