() Chicago residents are celebrating after the selection of Pope Leo XIV, a native of the Windy City, as the first American pope and the next leader of the Catholic Church.

Hundreds gathered Friday at Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral for a celebratory Mass.

Born in 1955, Robert Prevost earned degrees in mathematics and philosophy of education at Villanova University. Prevost spent most of his career as a missionary in South America, even becoming a citizen of Peru.

In 2023, he was summoned back to Rome by Pope Francis and appointed prefect of the dicastery for bishops. He was tasked with the role of finding prospects for new leaders of the church.

Growing up, Prevost attended St. Mary of the Assumption School on Chicago’s South Side, just a few stops away from the home of his favorite baseball team, the Chicago White Sox, and first felt the call to dedicate his life to God as an altar boy.

But for many, the new pope represents more than just one city or country.

“I think it’s great that he’s from Chicago, but the big picture is, he’s a universal pope,” said Chuck Swirsky, announcer for the Chicago Bulls. “Yesterday, he spoke in Italian, he spoke in Spanish. So when you look at who he represents, he represents all of us, not just the United States or South America or Europe.”

To answer a question that may be on the mind of some, Prevost’s brother said he is a fan of Roman-style pizza, not Chicago-style.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also weighed in on Prevost’s election.

“Everything dope, including the pope, comes from Chicago,” he said.