Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has hailed Pope Leo XIV as a formidable global partner in advancing social justice, migration, and reparations following their meeting at the Vatican.
Johnson emphasized that their shared Chicago roots and common priorities could significantly bolster efforts to safeguard vulnerable communities worldwide.
“As the mayor of Chicago, we are incredibly elated and proud of him,” Johnson said Friday, a day after his private audience with the American pontiff. The mayor expressed comfort in knowing that someone from Chicago “can speak to justice” and champion “the most vulnerable among us.”
Johnson, a first-term progressive Democrat leading the third-largest U.S. city, traveled to Rome with a delegation of approximately 50 local officials, attracting considerable media attention. Known as a critic of President Donald Trump, Johnson previously commended Pope Leo for his opposition to the war in Iran and the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
During their meeting, Johnson conveyed his gratitude to the Pope “for his courage and his strength and particularly his moral stance,” framing the discussion as a convergence of civic leadership and moral authority. He highlighted the alignment between Chicago’s policy agenda and the Pope’s strong emphasis on social justice, particularly concerning the legacy of slavery and the treatment of migrants.
The mayor noted that the pontiff’s apology for the Catholic Church’s historical involvement in slavery provided significant affirmation for his administration’s push for reparations. This includes initiatives to fund a task force dedicated to examining the enduring impact of slavery on Black Americans.
“The fact that the pope made a very clear declaration apologizing for the church’s role in slavery … is an affirmation to the work that we’re doing,” Johnson stated.
Johnson underscored that the visit aims to position Chicago within a broader international movement for human rights. He believes the Pope’s global influence can lend considerable weight to the city’s agenda on justice, migration, and reparative policies, potentially extending its message far beyond U.S. borders.
Focus on migrants’ conditions amid US crackdown
Migration was another central topic of their discussion. Johnson revealed that Pope Leo directly inquired about conditions in Chicago amidst a wider U.S. immigration crackdown and efforts to deport migrants.
“He wanted to know the conditions on the ground in Chicago … how we were responding,” Johnson said, adding that the pontiff was aware of “the mass effort to deport immigrants from the city of Chicago and really around the country.”
Johnson detailed the city’s response to migrants facing fear and uncertainty, including rapid-response initiatives to ensure families had access to schools and essential necessities. He also highlighted executive actions designed to protect migrants, noting that Chicago’s approach has been adopted by other municipalities.
The mayor characterized the meeting as the genesis of broader cooperation between city government and the Vatican.
“We talked about how his pulpit and my pen can come together to protect all of humanity,” he said, referring to both descendants of enslaved people and immigrant communities. Johnson also emphasized their shared Chicago background, asserting that the city’s history of activism makes it “uniquely positioned for this moment.”
He marked the visit by presenting Pope Leo with a key to the city and extending an invitation for him to celebrate Mass in Chicago’s Grant Park.
This marks at least the second official invitation for Pope Leo to visit the United States, following an invitation from U.S. Vice President JD Vance shortly after his papacy began last May.
