"The Pope is from Chicago. This is one of the biggest moments in the modern history of our city," said Mayor Brandon Johnson in a statement.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield released a statement expressing profound joy and deep gratitude to God for the election.

Catholics are surprised and delighted in Chicago, where the church's influence persists despite declining numbers.

Who says Cardinals have no other field of interest than religion? It’s now common knowledge that Pope Francis has his replacement as head of the Catholic Church and head of the Vatican’s monarchical state,

In one of Chicago’s south suburbs, while other boys were playing cops and robbers, the future Pope Leo XIV would pretend to hold Mass in the basement of his family’s small brick home, reading from scripture and distributing disk-shaped candy wafers to his two older brothers.

I knew it was bound to happen at some point, but this soon – if you’re thinking in context, 10 years is not that far off. So, that’s pretty cool.”

The election of Pope Leo XIV as the first-American pontiff shocked the world, and Chicago residents rejoiced in the Holy See’s ties to the Windy City.

The internet went wild after the selection of Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native, with memes, t-shirts, and even a sandwich named in his honor.

Globally, everyone is reacting to the newly-appointed Pope in the Catholic Church, and bishop of Rome. On Thursday, it was announced that Cardinal Robert Prevost has been named the new pope, he is the first American pope in history and will go by the name Pope Leo XIV who was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois.

A Midwesterner, like the new Pope Leo XIV, Burger swelled with pride and saw a little opportunity for motivation. “Basically, I kind of thought: New Pope, new me,” Burger said Wednesday night. “He’s a Midwestern guy like me. I was proud. And since he’s been elected Pope, we’ve been rather hot.”

Da pope is a Chicagoan! The post Try These Iconic Chicago Foods In Honor Of The New Pope first appeared on Spoon University.