America’s first Pope delivered a powerful message of faith and hope to 30,000 attendees at Chicago’s White Sox stadium, urging young people to find meaning through service to others during these challenging times.
At a Glance
- Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pontiff, addressed his home country via video broadcast at Chicago’s White Sox stadium
- The celebration honored Leo’s May 8th election and tied into the Catholic Church’s Jubilee year of hope
- Leo encouraged youth struggling with depression and sadness to find healing through God’s love
- The event featured special performances by the Leo Catholic High School Choir and included testimonials from the pope’s former teacher and classmate
- Approximately 30,000 people attended the celebration, which concluded with Mass celebrated by Cardinal Blase Cupich
America’s First Pope Reaches Out to Youth
Pope Leo XIV made his first address to American Catholics since his historic May 8th election in a video message broadcast at Chicago’s White Sox stadium. The event, organized by the Archdiocese of Chicago, celebrated the election of Robert Prevost as the first American Pope in the church’s history. The celebration drew approximately 30,000 faithful to the ballpark, where they received a message centered on finding hope through faith and community service during difficult times. The gathering served as both a homecoming celebration for the Chicago-born pontiff and a kickoff for youth engagement initiatives across the country.
Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, acknowledged the unique setting with characteristic good humor, telling the crowd, “Wow. I think I’m going to remember this moment as the sermon on the mound.” The event was emceed by Chicago Bulls announcer Chuck Swirsky and featured performances by the Leo Catholic High School Choir, highlighting the connection between the Pope’s name and local institutions. The program concluded with Cardinal Cupich celebrating Mass for all attendees, emphasizing the spiritual importance of the gathering despite its festival-like atmosphere.
Finding Meaning Through Faith and Service
Pope Leo’s message directly addressed the mental health challenges facing many young Americans today. “So many people who suffer from different experiences of depression or sadness – they can discover that the love of God is truly healing, that it brings hope,” the pontiff stated. This focus on mental wellbeing resonated with attendees, many of whom have witnessed rising rates of depression among youth, particularly following the isolation of the pandemic years. Leo emphasized that finding purpose through serving others provides an antidote to the emptiness many young people experience despite material comfort.
“To share that message of hope with one another – in outreach, in service, in looking for ways to make our world a better place – gives true life to all of us, and is a sign of hope for the whole world,” declares Pope Leo XIV.
The Pope’s message aligned with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee year of hope, declared by his predecessor Pope Francis. Leo quoted Saint Paul’s reassurance that “Hope does not disappoint” and drew from Saint Augustine’s wisdom that “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, O God.” These traditional teachings were presented in the context of modern challenges, offering timeless spiritual guidance for contemporary struggles. The pope specifically called on young people to become “beacons of hope” within their communities through active faith and service to others.
Baseball and Faith: American Traditions Unite
The choice of White Sox stadium for this event carried special significance, as Pope Leo is reportedly a lifelong White Sox fan who attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. The celebration highlighted the intersection of American cultural traditions and Catholic faith, with an invitation extended for Leo to throw a ceremonial first pitch at a future White Sox game. This blending of baseball and faith resonated with the predominantly American audience, who appreciated seeing their national pastimes acknowledged alongside spiritual matters by the Vatican’s new leader.
“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. 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,” stated Pope Leo XIV.
Personal touches were added to the program through discussions with individuals who knew Pope Leo before his elevation to the papacy. A former teacher and high school classmate shared stories about the Pontiff’s early years, humanizing the spiritual leader for the audience. These testimonials emphasized Leo’s lifelong commitment to the values he now champions on the world stage, reinforcing the authenticity of his message to American youth. The Pope’s direct appeal, “The world looks to you as you look around yourselves and says, ‘we need you’,” established a clear call to action for young Catholics across the nation.
