‘Father Bob!’: How 50 Chicago Pilgrims Caught Pope Leo’s Attention in St. Peter’s Square

Pope Leo XIV engaged in a personal encounter with 50 pilgrims from the Nativity of Our Lord and St. Gabriel parish community during a Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter’s Square. The group, consisting of 40 people from the South Side of Chicago and 10 from New York City, used signs and chants to get the attention of the Chicago-born pope while he traveled in the popemobile.

During the livestream of the audience, the pope leaned toward his secretaries to identify the group as being from St. Gabe’s, the parish school where his brother, John Prevost, previously served as principal. Deacon Rob Morris shouted to the pope that the group had brought candy for him, and pilgrims passed gifts toward the pope's security detail. After a pilgrim named Anne Russell was identified by the crowd, the pope asked the group where they would be located so he could find them again. He instructed the pilgrims to keep their signs raised.