Pope Leo XIV’s old community of Dolton is finding hope in his election after years of violence and corruption for the suburb south of Chicago.

"He’s the one who gave me permission to stay there" in 2000, James M. Ray, the former priest, told the Chicago Sun-Times about Robert Prevost, newly installed as pope but then head of the Midwest province of the Catholic church’s Augustinian order.

There is a new landmark at the home of the Chicago White Sox — Section 140, Row 19, Seat 2. That’s where Father Bob — the future Pope Leo XIV — sat for Game 1 of the 2005 World Series.

On Monday, Vice President JD Vance met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, where he gifted the Chicago-born pope a custom Bears jersey, according to CBS News. It included his name (Pope Leo) and number (naturally, XIV). “Good choice,” he told Vance when he received the jersey.

Chicago Cardinal says when Pope Leo XIV is ready to travel to the United States, he will push for a Chicago stop.

Pope Leo XIV hails from Chicago, and his White Sox fandom has already been embraced by the franchise in a major way. Back when he was just Father Bob Prevost, the new pope attended one of Chicago's 2005 World Series games.

Whitey Rigsby had just landed in Chicago to attend a Villanova function and was still on the plane when his wife, Becky, called after the white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. The pope wasn’t just an American,

Some Catholics in Chicago still hope the new pope will signal greater acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community — with time.