Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson met Pope Leo XIV in Rome Thursday, and he brought with him plenty of surprises.
Alongside his delegation of nearly 50 people, Johnson’s visit featured a number of Chicago-style gifts for Da Pope, including an invitation to return home and deliver a mass in the city’s Grant Park.
The meeting mark’s Johnson’s first visit with the Chicago-born pontiff. Johnson was also expected to meet with the Mayor of Rome and tour a new metro station before coming back to Chicago Saturday.
A social post from Johnson before he left for the visit said “I look forward to exploring how we can use our respective authorities to advance justice both in Chicago and around the world.”
Here’s a look at what he brought with him to Italy:
Gifts
- Mayor Johnson personally presented Pope Leo with a Key to the City of Chicago and an invitation to return home and deliver mass in Grant Park.
- Chicago White Sox hat with the Italian Flag, JP Graziano Giar, 2 hot 2 mild From Ownership
- An Immigrants Make America Greater hat from the Chicago Sister Cities International program
- The pope’s parent’s diplomas from DePaul University from President Robert Manuel
- Pope Leo Cubs Jersey and two Cubs hats from The Cubs organization
- Chicago Flag, Chicago White Sox hat with the Italian flag, Chicago tote bag, and ceremonial Chicago street sign from the City of Chicago
- Honey from the Chicago Cultural center roof from DCASE
- Brass tray with the Chicago lakefront etchings, 3 Chicago flag field notes, a World Business Chicago tote bag from the City of Chicago and World Business Chicago
- (2) “Everything dope including the pope comes from Chicago” T-shirts from Sherman “Dilla” Thomas
- Cornerstones book and a poster of stained glass from M.A.A.F.A Redemption Project Church and Rev. Dr. Marshall E. Hatch Sr.
- Letters from parishioners at St. Benedict the African in Englewood, written by a 5-year-old and 9-year-old and their mom with expressions of gratitude for his leadership
- Frango Mints from Catholic Charities
- Hat and jersey from Chicago Sky
- Hat from DePaul University
- Letters from families of detained immigrants
- Hat from Loyola University
- Bloodworks by Bishop Horace Smith, MD
- United Airlines plane from United Airlines
- Southwest community ICE watch pin
- Sanctuary city pin
- Resisting tyrants since pharaoh and White Sox kippah and White Sox pope t-shirt from Mishkan Chicago
- Silver dove necklace representing peace, Image of the Eucharist procession in Broadview so the notes from families detained by ICE. Coalition front spiritual and public leadership
- I am somebody sweatshirt, Keep Hope Alive from Rainbow Push
- Union strike pin in a silver box books and letter from St. Mary’s College
- The Legacies of Sr. Madeleva Wolff, CSC, edited by Jessica Coblentz and Susan Mancino
- Saint Mary’s College, Amanda Divine and Colin-Elizabeth
- ‘God Bless the Westside’ t shirt from Alderman Ervin
- Operation Breadbasket: An Untold Story of Civil Rights in Chicago, Martin L. Deppe
- Keeping Hope Alive: Sermons and Speeches of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., edited by Grace Ji-Sun Kim
