When Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, stepped out onto the balcony above St. Peter’s Square on May 8, 2025, it was a moment of pride for Catholics across Chicago’s South Side and suburbs.
Now, a new Vatican-produced documentary gives audiences a deeper look into the Chicago roots of the first American pope. Titled Leo from Chicago, the 52-minute film is produced by Vatican Media and traces Pope Leo’s path from his childhood in Dolton, Illinois, through his religious formation and eventual rise to the papacy.
The documentary explores his early life in a working-class suburb just south of the city, grounding his global role in a distinctly local upbringing. Viewers are introduced to members of his family, including his brother John, who still lives near Chicago, and his brother Louis, who resides in Florida.
The film also follows Pope Leo’s academic and spiritual formation. He studied mathematics and theology and attended Villanova University, where he built lasting friendships. Several of those friends appear in the documentary, including a Villanova classmate who first met him through a student pro-life group. Interviews describe a young man remembered for his intelligence, sincerity, and attentiveness to others.
Chicago itself features prominently throughout the documentary. Scenes include shots on the “L” and a visit to Rate Field (originally called Comiskey Park), where the seat Pope Leo once occupied during Game 1 of the 2005 World Series is shown on camera.
According to the filmmakers Leo from Chicago, soon on Vatican media’s channels, is intended for a global audience, offering insight into the personal history behind the papacy. The documentary focuses on where his vocation began, his family life, and the friendships and formation that shaped his calling.
For Chicago viewers, the film also serves as a reminder that the path to the Vatican began in their own neighborhoods.
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