Good morning, Chicago. The Chicago area erupted in celebration May 8 at news that Robert Francis Prevost — born in Bronzeville and raised in south suburban Dolton — was chosen as the 267th pope and leader of an estimated 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. “It made people who live in Chicago pr oud that we produced a pope,” recalled Cardinal Blase Cupich, who took part in the historic papal conclave that selected Prevost. Yet the election of a new pope with local roots and tastes — an affinity for Aurelio’s Pizza and cheering on the White Sox, Bulls and Bears — has in many ways uplifted Chicago’s image on a global scale. Leo’s selection has also forged deeper ties between Chicago and Vatican City. Read the full story from the Tribune’s Angie Leventis Lourgos. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including DOJ saying it may need a ‘few more weeks’ to finish releasing Epstein files, the NBA on Christmas and what to do in Chicago this weekend. Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles Games | Today in History Pope Leo XIV celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican, Wednesday, Dec.24, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Faithful return to Bethlehem and Pope Leo XIV celebrates his first Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s Thousands of people flocked to Bethlehem’s Manger Square on Christmas Eve as families there and at other sites across the Holy Land heralded a much-needed boost of holiday spirit, after two years of subdued celebrations because of the war in Gaza. At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV presided over his first Midnight Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. In his homily, he marveled at the “wisdom” of the Christmas story — an infant Jesus born to save mankind. “In the face of the suffering of the poor, (God) sends one who is defenseless to be the strength to rise again,” the first U.S. pope told a packed basilica. Bethlehem, where Christians believe Jesus was born, had canceled Christmas celebrations during the war. But yesterday the giant Christmas tree returned to Manger Square, temporarily replacing the wartime nativity scene of baby Jesus surrounded by rubble and barbed wire in a homage to Gaza’s suffering. Related:  Faith leaders denied access to pray in Broadview ICE facility on Christmas Eve This undated photo released by the U.S. Department of Justice shows Jeffrey Epstein. (U.S. Department of Justice via AP) After missing deadline, DOJ says it may need a ‘few more weeks’ to finish releasing Epstein files The Justice Department said that it may need a “few more weeks” to release all of its records on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after suddenly discovering more than a million potentially relevant documents, further delaying compliance with last Friday’s congressionally mandated deadline. A bison in Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve in Burlington Township on Dec. 22, 2025. Six American bison have been introduced into the preserve. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Bison return to Kane County after 200 years, a crucial step for conservation and Indigenous connection From their cozy homes in suburban Burlington, children curiously watch their new neighbors through windows and brainstorm nicknames. Earlier this month, with their distinctive brown fur, big heads, short horns and back hump, a small herd of six American buffalo — the largest land mammals in the country — exited a trailer and took their first steps on 38 acres of prairie restored by the Kane County Forest Preserve District, 60 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. It’s the first time in over two centuries that bison have called the county home. Inches of snow had piled on the ground, and conservationists had waited for hours in the brutal cold for the animals to show up. The move was a rematriation, a return of missing relatives, according to Jay Young, co-executive director of the American Indian Center of Chicago, which owns the animals in the collaborative conservation effort. Andrea Burns, left, and Martina Maggiore find the recently installed mural of Pope Leo XIV in Section 140 before a White Sox-Rangers game on May 23, 2025, at Rate Field in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) The Great 2025 Chicago Tribune holiday news quiz The biggest and maybe the hardest news quiz of the year is here for your seasonal pleasure! The news never stopped this year. But how closely were you paying attention? Test your knowledge with our annual quiz and feel free to ask your loved ones for help. But no Google searches or AI prompts allowed. Friends don’t let friends use ChatGPT. Lakers coach JJ Redick, right, talks with Lebron James during a game against the Clippers on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jae C. Hong/AP) NBA on Christmas: LeBron James’ 20th appearance on Dec. 25 highlights a fistful of holiday games The schedule, with all times Central: The Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks gets things started at 11 a.m., followed by the Spurs at Thunder at 1:30 p.m., Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors at 4 p.m., Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers at 7 p.m. and Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets at 9:30 p.m. Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker (94) tackles Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) in the first quarter of a game at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 20, 2025. A roughing the quarterback penalty was called on Booker on the play. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Chicago Bears DE Austin Booker says NFL fined him $5K apiece for 2 roughing-the-passer penalties on Jordan Love Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker was flagged for roughing the passer on the Green Bay Packers’ third offensive play of the game, when quarterback Jordan Love threw incomplete to Romeo Doubs on third-and-1 from the Bears 44-yard line. Related:  What we learned from the Chicago Bears, including Luther Burden III returning to practice but not Rome Odunze Tenia Davis, center, owner of Beyond the Book, listens during the the store's first book club meeting on Nov. 19, 2025, in Homewood. (James C. Svehla/for the Chicago Tribune) Homewood bookstore Beyond the Book is a dream realized for Flossmoor resident Tenia Davis has been an executive in human resources for years. Harpo Productions, Johnson Publishing Company, and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago are but a few of the places she’s worked. The Flossmoor resident is a leadership development expert who’s authored books on the topic to help organizations’ success. With an MBA from Loyola University, a master’s and doctorate of philosophy in values-driven leadership from Benedictine University, Davis decided to segue away from the C-suite to retail with her own bookstore, Beyond the Book, A Literary Experience. Kate Hudson, left, and Hugh Jackman in "Song Sung Blue." (Sarah Shatz/Focus Features/TNS) Review: ‘Song Sung Blue’ hits a winning note, based on a real story There are a lot of ways that “Song Sung Blue” — a film about real Milwaukee Neil Diamond tribute act Lighting and Thunder — could have gone awry. The premise alone could be a “Saturday Night Live” sketch, and in a different world, the movie would be a broad comedy and star Will Ferrell. Instead, it hews closer to tragedy and stars Hugh Jackman (who couldn’t do irony if he tried) as Mike Sardina aka Lightning, and Kate Hudson, as Mike’s devoted wife and bandmate Claire, aka Thunder. Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser in “Marty Supreme.” (A24/TNS) Review: Timothée Chalamet is truly great in the kenetic ‘Marty Supreme’ “Marty Supreme” is a truly staggering American epic about finally learning that hustle is never going to love you back — even if chasing it can be a thrill, at least for a moment. In this anxiety-riddled portrait of the corrosive nature of American capitalism, sports is merely the vessel, but it’s still the kind of movie that will make you want to stand up and cheer. Big Easy of the Globetrotters plays with a ball attached to his hand during the Harlem Globetrotters World Tour at Qudos Bank Arena on April 15, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Munoz/Getty Images) What to do in Chicago: Harlem Globetrotters, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and holiday magic Here are our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend. ...read more read less