Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is currently in Italy, where he embarked on a tour of historic landmarks alongside the Mayor of Rome this Friday.
On Thursday, Johnson had the honor of visiting the Vatican, where he met with Pope Leo XIV.
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The Mayor’s office released photographs documenting this significant meeting with the Pope.
Accompanying Johnson on this trip is a delegation of nearly 50 individuals, comprising business leaders, community activists, civic representatives, and faith leaders.
The group includes notable figures such as Chicago Teachers Union President Stacey Davis Gates, Yusef Jackson, President and CEO of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and unexpected participants like Mary Dillon, former CEO of Foot Locker.
The discussions during the visit covered a variety of important global issues, including the ongoing conflict in Iran, as well as challenges related to poverty, immigration, and economic affordability.
Mayor Johnson and his team say they presented the pope with the key to the city and brought a few gifts, including giardiniera and White Sox merch.
Mayor Johnson also extended an invitation for the pope to come back to Chicago and celebrate a Mass in Grant Park next year.
The pope appeared open to the invite.
“We joked a little bit. And then I put on a serious face, and said, ‘on behalf of the city of Chicago, and as chair of tourism, it would be an honor to have you officiate a Mass in Grant Park.’ And he looked at me, and he said, ‘I’d like to do that,’” said Guy Chipparoni, chairman of the board of Choose Chicago.
Pope John Paul II visited Chicago in October 1979. He said Mass in Grant Park, and roughly a million people came to see him.
Chipparoni speculated Pope Leo would draw five times that.
“It’s hard to imagine what kind of impact a visit by the pope would have at his hometown. But that’s in the hands of the pope and the Vatican. But the request is in, and up until now there’s been no request,” Chipparoni said.
Choose Chicago also took out full-page ads in Rome’s largest paper, and also plastered bus stops. The ad said, “Our City. His Calling, Elige, or Choose, Chicago.”
Boosting tourism is one goal of this trip.
“So we are really looking and talking to leaders of this great country in Italy, just to make certain that we learn from what they are doing. It is, it is actually a challenge for them right now to manage all the tourism, the uptick that they have,” Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin said.
Mayor Johnson toured an affordable housing development and a colosseum train station as part of his visit.
He reflected on a fun moment with the pope when he presented him with a Cubs hat.
“He loves Chicago. So, you know, he comes from that generation of fans where, you know, you have to pick a team. So I don’t expect him to wear the Cubs hat, but it’s not necessary as long as he just, you know, places some blessed oil on it,” Johnson said.
The mayor returns home Saturday.
The trip is funded in part by World Business Chicago, an economic development agency.
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