Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Chicago native Robert Francis Prevost ministered to alcoholics and addicts at the former St. Victor Church in Calumet City, Illinois.
Leo did an internship at St. Victor's outreach program to help people overcome their addictions, said George Grenchik, a longtime parishioner who taught at St. Victor's School for 30 years and serves as the St. Victor's historian.
The program spread to more than 15 churches across Chicagoland and involved priests and seminary students from across the Archdiocese of Chicago.
"When he was a new priest, he took part in a progressive ministry to alcoholics and addictions that was started by Father Bill Stenzel and Sister Terese Del Genio," Grenchik said. "The outreach program trained a dozen or more parishioners to do counseling and interventions. When it was up and running, the Chicago Theological Union trained priests from all over to participate. Father Prevost, the future pope, did an internship at St. Victor's outreach team in Cal City."
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St. Victor merged into Jesus Shepherd of Souls Parish in Calumet City along with St. Andrew the Apostle Parish and Our Lady of Knock Parish in 2019, uniting Calumet City's three Catholic churches under a single banner as part of the archdiocese's revitalization program. The church closed in 2020.
Robert Prevost, who assumed the name Pope Leo XIV, is the first American pope in history, marking a transition for the Catholic Church following the papacy of Pope Francis. While Francis was known for his progressive tone, welcoming immigrants, washing the feet of non-Christians, and supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion, Leo is seen as a centrist.聽
Prevost grew up in neighboring Dolton, Illinois, and went to St. Mary the Assumption Church on 137th Street in Riverdale, Illinois. He joined the outreach program when he was just starting in the priesthood.
"He was involved in St. Victor's," Jesus Shepherd of Souls Parish Operations Director Rosario Orozco said. "Our parishioners are excited that he has a connection to Calumet City."
Longtime St. Victor parishioner Maria Valadez said she and other congregants were ecstatic that he hailed from the south suburbs.
Former cardinal Robert Prevost, elevated as the 267th pope in the history of the Catholic Church on Thursday, conducted his first mass as Leo XIV in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on Friday.
"I feel totally emotional that a new pope was elected right away and surprised because they always said there would never be an American pope, and here we have one," she said. "Now it's coming out from everywhere that people knew him, that he was here or he was there. Everyone is so happy about that. Everyone feels so connected. You see photos of him visiting Aurelio's in Homewood. It's amazing that he's from the south suburbs. It's astounding that there was a connection with a parish you were part of. It's heartfelt to see how he touched everybody when he was here. No one knew when he grew up, he would be the pope."
The St. Victor outreach program started in the 1970s and ran up until as late as the 1990s before it was discontinued, Grenchik said.
"The outreach team would get the personal phone numbers and call people who were struggling with alcoholism or addiction," he said. "They were often in denial and family members would refer them. There are people walking around Calumet City today that the future pope counseled."
Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pope, may have a complicated relationship with the Trump administration. Despite his American roots, he has often opposed US policies, particularly on immigration and social justice.
Photos: Chicago celebrates election of Pope Leo XIV
鈥淟ong live the Pope! Long live the Pope!鈥 chanted sixth graders from Everest Academy, a Catholic school in Lemont, Ill., in front of Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago, following the election of Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native and the first American Pope in history on Thursday.
People peer inside of Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago, while waiting to come inside to pray following the election of the new Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Ill.
Members of the Archdiocese of Chicago give a press conference following the election of the new Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Ill.
Julia Caspar, left, and Catherine Freidenfeld, right, of Hillsdale College, pray following the election of the new Pope on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Ill.
People gather to celebrate the election of the new Pope on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Ill.
People chat outside Holy Name Cathedral while waiting to go inside and pray following the election of the new Pope on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Ill.
People enter Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago, to pray following the election of the new Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Ill.
A person takes a picture of the front of Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago, following the election of the new Pope on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Ill.
People wait outside the doors of Holy Name Cathedral to celebrate the election of the new Pope on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Ill.
People pray following the election of the new Pope on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Ill.
