A year ago Friday, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV — the first U.S.-born pontiff — and began his papacy with four words that would come to define much of his first year: “Peace be with you."In Illinois, there was pride about his Chicago roots, excitement for his White Sox loyalty and eagerness to hear stories from friends and family who grew up with him.As the months progressed, Pope Leo spoke on many issues, particularly regarding President Donald Trump's immigration crackdowns and, later, the war in Iran. Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass on Corpus Christi Day in St. John Latheran Archbasilica, in Rome, just weeks after becoming pontiff.Andrew Medichini/Associated Press Elected as first U.S. pope The election of Pope Leo XIV left Chicago abuzz for months.Born in Chicago and raised in Dolton, Pope Leo leaned into his Windy City roots.Almost a month into his papacy, the pope delivered his first address to a U.S. audience, via video link to a Mass held at Rate Field, home of the Sox.“As you offer your own experience of joy and of hope, you can discover that you, too, are indeed beacons of hope,” the pope said to the 30,000 worshippers.There was also speculation about restoring and even reopening his childhood church, St. Mary of the Assumption on the Far South Side. Related Can Pope Leo XIV’s boyhood church — St. Mary of the Assumption — be saved? Pope Leo XIV delivers message of peace, unity at Rate Field in first address to his hometown Names Carlo Acutis first millennial saintFurthering the plans of his predecessor, Pope Francis, Leo canonized the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis, who died at 15 from leukemia.Besides teaching catechism in a parish in Italy, Acutis had used his tech skills to create an online exhibit of more than 100 eucharistic miracles recognized by the church over many centuries.Folks at Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish in Chicago, now renamed St. Carlo Acutis Parish, celebrated the official canonization in September. The Bucktown parish is the only one in North America named after the young saint. Related Bucktown parish honors namesake Carlo Acutis becoming first millennial saint after canonization by Pope Leo Speaks out against Operation Midway BlitzDuring Trump’s deportation campaign in Chicago, which began last September, the pontiff said he was troubled by the violent and at times "extremely disrespectful" ways migrants have been treated in the U.S."We have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have,” Leo told a group of reporters in November. “If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that. There are courts. There's a system of justice.” Gov. JB Pritzker and his wife, MK, met with the pope after those statements. The Pritzkers gave him a piece of artwork from an incarcerated immigrant woman, as well as beers labeled “Da Pope.” Related Pritzker and Pope Leo XIV talk ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ and a Chicago beer honoring the pontiff Pope Leo calls out ‘extremely disrespectful’ treatment of migrants in the U.S. Pope Leo XIV wears a White Sox cap as he meets newly wedded couples during the weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in June 2025.Filippo Monteforte/Getty Images Calls for peace abroadDuring his first foreign trip of the papacy in late November, Leo championed a two-state solution between Israel and Palestinians, saying it was the only way to resolve the conflict.On the same trip, the Holy Father urged Turkey to act as a force for stability and peace amid the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars. Leo also traveled to Beirut and praised the Christian and Muslim coexistence in Lebanon. Related Pope Leo XIV doubles down on insistence for 2-state solution to resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict Pope in Lebanon asks for ‘divine gift of peace’ alongside country’s Christian and Muslim leaders Awards Nobel Prize of Theology to Riccardo Muti Riccardo Muti, an Italian-born maestro, spent more than 10 years as Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s music director, becoming music director emeritus in 2023.Pope Leo awarded Muti the Ratzinger Prize, also known as "the Nobel Prize of Theology," both for his musical achievements and in celebration of Muti's friendship with Pope Benedict, who established the theology, philosophy and arts award in 2011. Related Pope Leo to recognize Riccardo Muti with esteemed award at Vatican this month Disagrees with Pritzker on assisted suicide bill The pope said he was “very disappointed” that Illinois approved a law allowing medical-assisted suicide after “explicitly” urging Pritzker to “respect the sacredness of life” and not sign the bill.Pritzker said he signed the bill because he had been moved by stories of patients suffering from terminal illness. Related Pope disappointed by approval of Illinois’ assisted suicide legislation This photo illustration shows a picture of President Donald Trump and an AI-generated picture he posted on his Truth Social platform depicting himself as Jesus Christ after criticizing Pope Leo XIV. The White House later took the post down. Mandel Ngan/Getty Feuds with Trump over warMost recently, the pontiff has gone toe-to-toe with Trump, continuing to speak out against the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and calling for peace.In April, Trump took to social media, writing that Leo was “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.”The pope said the president’s threat to wipe out “a whole civilization” was “really not acceptable.”After Trump posted a now-deleted AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus healing a sick man, the pope responded directly.“I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for,” the pope said. “We are not politicians. We do not look at foreign policy from the same perspective that he may have.”Trump later said the image portrayed himself as a doctor. Related Pope Leo brushes off Trump attack as a Chicago Catholic leader says president is ‘waking up a sleeping giant’ ...read more read less