Pope leo xiv's illinois roots: a humble leader connects with his hometown

During a private audience with Illinois mayors in Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV revealed a surprising connection to the Midwest state - he had lived in the village of Matteson as a child. The revelation came when Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin presented the pontiff with a plaque featuring a photo of his boyhood home, which the village recently acquired.

Pope's familiarity with illinois

Chalmers-Currin was struck by the pope's intimate knowledge of Illinois and the Chicago area.