Former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, Illinois was elected Pope, taking the name Leo XIV, on May 8, 2025 in Vatican City.
Pope Leo XIV made his first public appearance on the evening of Thursday, May 8, 2025, on the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica following four ballot initiatives of the papal conclave.
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In a Hollywood Catholic video on Instagram, the Blues Brothers song, “Sweet Home Chicago” is placed as background music to the Pope’s first papal appearance. (Yes, the music is added – it did not really happen!)
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We thought this would be a fun way to introduce the new pope. The music matches perfectly to not only his hometown of Chicago, but also to his movements in the video as the new pope.
Watch Pope Leo XIV’s first appearance on the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica to the Blues Brothers Song, “Sweet Home Chicago”:
More about Leo XIV’s Upbringing in Chicago
Pope Leo was raised in the working-class suburb of Dolton. He grew up in a devout Catholic family with his parents, Louis and Mildred Prevost. He also had two older brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph. The Prevost family was deeply involved in St. Mary of the Assumption parish, where Robert served as an altar boy and sang in the choir.
His childhood home was a modest brick bungalow on East 141st Place. It was a hub of faith and community. His mother organized church fundraisers. His father, a WWII Navy veteran, served as a school superintendent. Young Robert showed early signs of his calling. He often “played priest,” using candy wafers to mimic communion for his brothers and neighborhood children.
At St. Mary of the Assumption School, schoolmates remembered him as an intelligent and kind student. He was always seated in the top spot due to his academic excellence. Yet, he was playful with a sense of humor that endeared him to classmates.
His family’s commitment to Catholicism, with daily Mass attendance, the daily rosary, and active parish involvement, laid the foundation for the future pope’s spiritual journey and vocation. After attending St. Augustine Seminary High School in Michigan, he returned to Chicago for summers, maintaining ties to his South Side roots. His upbringing in this tight-knit, ethnically diverse community fostered the humility and compassion that would later define his papacy.
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