by Sal Isabella
I was in Chicago on June 14 to attend Trinity Sunday’s vigil Mass at Rate Field, the home park of the Chicago White Sox, Pope Leo XIV’s favorite baseball team. More than a dozen priests and bishops, led by Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, concelebrated a special Mass to mark the election of the first-ever American-born pope.
The event was so beautiful and very well planned by the Archdiocese of Chicago.
It was so great to hear from the different speakers — such as one of his teachers and mentors — who were so close to Pope Leo XIV in his early years before becoming the Holy Father. After a great panel discussion with them, followed by a few words from Cardinal Cupich about his encounter during the time leading up to the conclave, as well as after learning Pope Leo would soon be our next pope.
Following the discussion was an amazing Mass of thanksgiving.
To have been surrounded by thousands of other local Catholics from the Chicago area and to pray with them just gave me chills, most especially when — around an altar set up at centerfield — Mass started and everyone started singing together.
I have been blessed to be able to travel to many places thanks to my job, and when I first heard this event being announced online, I said to myself, “I need to be there and can’t miss it.” So, I waited for tickets to go on sale, and as soon as they did, I was able to get one before they sold out within minutes.
I flew into Chicago the morning of the event, attended, and then flew right back home to New York that same evening. It was such a great experience.
As a young adult, when I first heard we had an American pope, I was filled with joy and couldn’t have been more excited to see what would be in store for the future of this pontificate.
It was an honor to be present at this event and hear, firsthand, a prerecorded message by Pope Leo addressed to us young adults and youth, stating that the post-COVID period has been tough for us all. But as youth and young adults, he encouraged us to build community and friendships as brothers and sisters in our daily lives, both within our families and parishes, reminding us that we are the hope for many and that the world looks to us.
That touched me because I try to do just that at my parish, spreading the great news. Since he became pope, everything he has said in his messages just keeps getting better and better.
Sal Isabella is a parishioner at St. Thomas the Apostle in Woodhaven.