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Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Pope Leo XIV encourages peace and harmony at Chicago's Rate Field celebration
Pope Leo XIV spoke directly to the young people scattered throughout the audience at Rate Field Saturday afternoon, telling them that they are the 'promise of hope' and that the world looks to them to help spread a message of peace and harmony among all people. 'We have to look beyond our own, if you will, egotistical ways. We have to look for ways of coming together and promoting the message of hope,' Pope Leo XIV said in a video broadcast across the stadium. 'St. Augustine says to us that if we want the world to be a better place, we have to begin with ourselves. We have to begin with our own lives, our own hearts.' The recently elevated pontiff and South Side native shared a message of unity and hope to the thousands of faithful at a celebration of his election Saturday afternoon at Rate Field in the Bridgeport neighborhood. Around the stadium, the audience listened raptly to the approximately 10-minute video from the Chicago-born pope. Pope Leo XIV encouraged those in attendance and others watching online to build community and friendship in their daily lives and in their parishes, especially after the isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said many people who suffer from depression or sadness 'can discover that the love of God is truly healing.' 'When I see each and every one of you, when I see how people gather together to celebrate their faith and discover myself how much hope there is in the world,' Leo said. Aside from a personal message from the pope, the event, which had a $5 ticket price, featured music, prayer and a 4 p.m. Mass. There was a performance of both the U.S. and Peruvian national anthems to honor Pope Leo XIV's ties to both countries, and speeches from various faith leaders, including the Rev. John Merkelis, a high school classmate of the pope's and president of Providence Catholic High School. The night before the conclave began, Merkelis said he emailed Leo and told him 'Whatever happens, I'll still like (you).' The pope responded that 'He's sleeping well because an American is not going to be a pope.' When Pope Leo XIV was ultimately selected, Merkelis said everyone in the Providence faculty lounge started cheering and crying. 'He's a prayerful man, and having said all that, he's a regular guy. He'll change your oil. He'll fix your carburetor. He'll play Wordle,' Merkelis said. 'He's just a down-to-earth guy who's very smart, very prayerful, and I believe he will bring those same qualities to all the issues he faces.' Merkelis said he's still having trouble wrapping his head around the fact that someone whom he's eaten pizza and had a beer with is now the pope, but that he's 'so excited' for the city and that his friend was 'destined to lead.' He said Pope Leo XIV comforted him when his father died decades ago, and that he's a 'sensitive man.' 'He plays Wordle with his brother, and I'm on a team of people that play Wordle. So we made this vow that every time we post on Wordle we're going to write 'pray for Leo,'' Merkelis recounted. 'I sent him the screenshot of all our responses, and just a few days ago he emailed back and said thanks for the prayers.' Sister Dianne Bergant, a former teacher of Pope Leo XIV's at the Catholic Theological Union, where he earned his master's in divinity, said he was a good student, which she can prove because she didn't throw out her grade lists. The crowd laughed when she said his success must speak to the quality of the city's education. 'Everyone is involved. Everyone belongs to church. Everyone is a missionary in a very real sense, and that's the theology on which he grew,' she said. Robert Prevost, a missionary who became the first American to helm the Catholic Church, was born in 1955 at Mercy Hospital in the Bronzeville neighborhood, and grew up in south suburban Dolton with his parents and two brothers. He attended school and served as an altar boy at St. Mary of the Assumption parish on the Far South Side, where one classmate remembered him as the 'pride and joy of every priest and nun.' He's also a longtime White Sox fan. The pope donned a White Sox baseball cap as he met newly wedded couples in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Wednesday, and his brief appearance during the television broadcast of Game 1 of the 2005 World Series resurfaced and went viral. 'Pope Leo defines and represents the fabric and the heartbeat of the city of Chicago,' said Brooks Boyer, the White Sox's senior vice president, who also invited him back to Rate Field to throw a ceremonial first pitch. People flooded into the stadium hours before the program began. Many wore White Sox memorabilia, and several 'Da Pope' shirts were seen. Mike Donatelli, 67, had the best of both worlds — a White Sox jersey with 'Pope Leo' on the back. Donatelli now lives in the Loop, but he said he grew up on the South Side and he thinks it's incredible that someone who was basically a neighbor is now the leader of the Catholic Church. 'Same type of education system, we're the same age,' Donatelli said. 'One of my best friends from the Air Force Academy went to grade school with him … and said he was a great guy.' Donatelli said he's particularly drawn to the pope's humility and sense of humor. He thought it was clever when the pope joked that 'we can't invite Sinner' during a meeting with the tennis star Jannik Sinner. Donatelli, the former head of the Delta Air Line Pilots Association, also respects the pope's nod to workers in the selection of his name. 'He's already mentioned that we're all humans,' Donatelli said. 'We all have the same interests, especially for families. We just want to do the right thing and get ahead.' Miguel Vargas, 60, said he's also inspired that the new pope is from the Chicago area. He believes Chicagoans will follow the pope's lead and become ambassadors of what it means to be a good Catholic — united and peaceful. 'Since we are seeing a lot of things going on right now, we have to pray more and more,' Vargas said. 'We're here to pray for (Leo) and for the whole church.' Vargas, a Hoffman Estates resident, said he was born in Mexico and moved to the U.S. when he was 17. He said he's 'embraced the American Dream' ever since. 'The American Dream for me is not the money, but the faith,' he said.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Dad-of-three forced gardaí to use pepper spray after being found asleep outside bookies
The Lithuanian national pleaded guilty to obstructing Garda Sean Peyton as he attempted to execute his arrest. Thomas Merkelis was ordered to double his offer of compensation to the court by Judge Raymond Finnegan. A judge has told a father of three who became 'highly agitated' towards gardaí resulting in them having to deploy pepper spray when they came across him asleep outside a bookies that he will have to double his offer of compensation to the court. Judge Raymond Finnegan advised Thomas Merkelis, of The Meadows, Smithborough, Co Monaghan to return to court in July with twice the €250 sum he arrived to a sitting of Monaghan District Court with following an incident on November 13, 2022. The Lithuanian national pleaded guilty to obstructing Garda Sean Peyton as he attempted to execute his arrest and of using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at North Road, Monaghan. Gardaí were forced to deploy incapacitant spray in order to effect Thomas Merkelis' removal from the vehicle he had been found asleep in. Sgt Lisa McEntee, for the State, spoke of how gardaí came across the 43-year-old who appeared to be asleep inside a white VW Caddy van shortly before 4am. When Garda Peyton, together with a colleague, approached the 11-MN registered vehicle, Merkelis' head was observed lying against its driver's seat window. Having spoken to the accused upon noticing a strong smell of intoxicating liquor coming from inside the vehicle, Judge Finnegan was told Merkelis suddenly became 'highly agitated' upon being informed on several occasions of his requirement to exit the van. Sgt McEntee said Merkelis' tone also took a more 'verbally abusive' tone as he grabbed hold of the steering wheel. Thomas Merkelis on the steps of Monaghan Courthouse. Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 13 2025 The court heard how because of Merkelis' conduct, gardaí were forced to use incapacitant spray in order to effect his removal from the vehicle. Judge Finnegan was told Merkelis had previous convictions to his name, indiscretions which had dated back to 2010 for road traffic related offences. In defence, Paul Boyce said Merkelis was a father of three young children who had, at the time, been toiling under the strain of dealing with his late mother's diagnosis for a serious illness allied to health difficulties his sister had also been encountering at the time. Mr Boyce said his client had found solace in alcohol and was very much contrite about how events played out on the morning of the incident. 'He was going over and back to Lithuania and was under a lot of pressure,' said Mr Boyce, adding how his remorse had been demonstrated in him coming to court with €250 by means of compensation. Judge Finnegan said that figure was one which had fallen short of the court's requirements, telling Mr Boyce in no uncertain terms: 'He needs to double that.' Merkelis was remanded on bail to a sitting of Monaghan District Court on July 21 for the tendering of €500 in compensation.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Gardaí were forced to deploy pepper spray on ‘highly agitated' father of three found asleep outside bookies
Judge Raymond Finnegan advised Thomas Merkelis, of The Meadows, Smithborough, Co Monaghan to return to court in July with twice the €250 sum he arrived to a sitting of Monaghan District Court with following an incident on November 13, 2022. The Lithuanian national pleaded guilty to obstructing Garda Sean Peyton as he attempted to execute his arrest and of using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at North Road, Monaghan. Sgt Lisa McEntee, for the State, spoke of how gardaí came across the 43-year-old who appeared to be asleep inside a white VW Caddy van shortly before 4am. When Garda Peyton, together with a colleague, approached the 11-MN registered vehicle, Merkelis' head was observed lying against its driver's seat window. Having spoken to the accused upon noticing a strong smell of intoxicating liquor coming from inside the vehicle, Judge Finnegan was told Merkelis suddenly became 'highly agitated' upon being informed on several occasions of his requirement to exit the van. Sgt McEntee said Merkelis' tone also took a more 'verbally abusive' tone as he grabbed hold of the steering wheel. The court heard how because of Merkelis' conduct, gardaí were forced to use incapacitant spray in order to effect his removal from the vehicle. Judge Finnegan was told Merkelis had previous convictions to his name, indiscretions which had dated back to 2010 for road traffic related offences. In defence, Paul Boyce said Merkelis was a father of three young children who had, at the time, been toiling under the strain of dealing with his late mother's diagnosis for a serious illness allied to health difficulties his sister had also been encountering at the time. Mr Boyce said his client had found solace in alcohol and was very much contrite about how events played out on the morning of the incident. ADVERTISEMENT 'He was going over and back to Lithuania and was under a lot of pressure,' said Mr Boyce, adding how his remorse had been demonstrated in him coming to court with €250 by means of compensation. Judge Finnegan said that figure was one which had fallen short of the court's requirements, telling Mr Boyce in no uncertain terms: 'He needs to double that.' Merkelis was remanded on bail to a sitting of Monaghan District Court on July 21 for the tendering of €500 in compensation.
