"The Pope is from Chicago. This is one of the biggest moments in the modern history of our city," said Mayor Brandon Johnson in a statement.

Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, said he expects Pope Leo XIV "feels an obligation," to speak to what he called the issues of the day, amid "real challenges globally."

Another great pie is the Chicago Classic from Green Township's Werkhaus Pizza, which is topped with green bell peppers, sweet onions and sausage. Its charred, crackery crust is downright addictive, so don't be surprised if you find yourself eating around the edges.

Chicago’s South Side was solidly working class during Pope Leo’s childhood, said Rob Paral, a researcher at the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago. The family attended a South Side church, but they lived in Dolton, a suburb just past the city line.

It still may be hard to believe, but the new pope is from Chicago. In just a few days, those who consider Pope Leo XIV their own are headed to Rome for his installation ceremony. Six Augustinians from the Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park,

Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago-area native and former substitute teacher at St. Rita High School, has become the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Those who knew Pope Leo XIV as a younger man say his path to the papacy has prepared him well for the challenges ahead.

In Chicago, New Orleans and beyond, elated worshipers and priests celebrated their immediate sense of connection with Pope Leo.