Latest news with #mockconclave
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Cardinal Blasé Cupich visits Chicago school known for holding mini conclave
Students in Lakeview were visited by someone who helped choose Pope Leo XIV in the real conclave. Last month, CBS News Chicago introduced you to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy students in Lakeview, who held a mock conclave. People worldwide have followed their mini conclave and their celebration of the new pope. On Monday, they got a special visit and some face time with Cardinal Blasé Cupich. As expected, the students wore their famous conclave attire and showed Cardinal Cupich a personal performance of the highlights from their own conclave. It was Cardinal Augustus Wilk, also known as fourth grader Augie Wilk, who was eventually elected with two-thirds of the vote and took the name Pope Augustine. Students told CBS News Chicago when Pope Leo was elected days later, they were so excited for an American, Chicago-born pope. Cardinal Cupich answered their questions about the real process, his experience electing Pope Leo XIV, and offered his advice for the next generation of Catholic leaders. School leaders said the response to the mock conclave has been more than they ever imagined.
CBC
10-05-2025
- General
- CBC
#TheMoment these Chicago students held a mock conclave
Auggie Wilk, a student at a Catholic school in Chicago, recounts being chosen as pope for a day during a mock conclave — held just days before Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was named Leo XIV.
CBS News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Lakeview students who held mock conclave overjoyed with Chicago-born pope
The students of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy who earlier this week held a mock conclave were overjoyed Thursday when Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the new pope. The students dressed up as cardinal and Vatican Swiss Guards, transformed a school assembly room into the Sistine Chapel, and partook in all the traditions of the papal conclave. They donned scarlet cassocks, birettas and mozzettas for the occasion. They had to vote like cardinals, and think like them too. Cardinals campaigned for each other, and frontrunners cropped up. Round after round of voting was held, with a break to snack on Goldfish crackers after round three. And then Cardinal Augustus Wilk – also known as fourth-grader Augie Wilk – was elected with two thirds of the vote and took the name Pope Augustine. It was perhaps a bit of prescience, as just days later Cardinal Prevost, himself an Augustinian, was elected pope in Vatican City. "We were all screaming, 'U.S.A! U.S.A!'" Wilk said of the moment the news broke. The first American pope is a big deal for these young students. And the prospect that Pope Leo XIV may one day visit his hometown also fills them with glee. "That'd be incredible," Wilk said. "But I think he's probably focused on 'I'm the new pope!' instead of 'I have to go visit Chicago.'" The teachers at the school put in long hours to get every intricate detail of the mock conclave in order to give the students some core memories, and they hope these children, when they have children and grandchildren of their own, share these memories with them.
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
'It could be anyone!': U.S. fourth grade class holds mock conclave
Fourth graders at a Chicago school got an idea of the pressure cardinals are facing at the Vatican, holding a mock conclave complete with costumes.
CBS News
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Students at Chicago Catholic school learn valuable lessons in mock conclave
As cardinals in Rome get ready for the papal conclave, some kids in Chicago got an idea of their job ahead with a special activity Tuesday. At Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, at 720 W. Belmont Ave. in Lakeview alongside the English Tudor Gothic-style Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, youngsters were all dressed up as cardinals and Vatican Swiss Guards. And a school assembly room became the Sistine Chapel as the kids held their own mock conclave. Suddenly, fourth grader Cameron Smith felt the weight of a cardinal in Rome, as he interviewed candidates for pope with notebook in hand. "There's so many good options," he said. Cameron and the other elementary school cardinals all donned scarlet cassocks, birettas, and mozzettas for the occasion — and they had to vote like cardinals, and think like them too. Teachers, parents, and the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish helped plan the mock conclave. It was up to 20 kid cardinals to pick their pope. "They need to be humble," said sixth grader Evan Broz. "Be a pope of the people." "I think you've got to be kind, respectful," said Cameron. "What makes a good pope is a pope that's holy, and has a good heart for everyone," said another kid cardinal, Angie. As the cardinals campaigned for each other, frontrunners cropped up. The young cardinals went through multiple rounds of voting — with a snack break of Goldfish crackers before round three. "We're getting very close to a pope and everyone's freaking out," Cameron said as the voting went on. "It could be anyone!" But the palpable papal suspense finally lifted. Cardinal Augustus Wilk — also known as fourth-grader Augie Wilk — was elected "Pope Augustine" with two-thirds of the vote. "I also learned it's good to have a little bit of fun, but also to stay humble," Auggie said. White smoke billowing from a pipe out a window signaled the news to the entire school. And the new kid pope came to another window and waved to an exuberant cheering crowd of youngsters — just like the real pope in St. Peter's Square.
