NEW LENOX, Ill. (WLS) — Those from the Chicago-area close to Pope Leo XIV are making their way to Rome for his installation Mass Sunday.
A teacher from Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox leaves for Rome Friday.
Brother David Relstab is part of the Midwest Augustinians Province, where Pope Leo started his religious life.
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He says young people are paying close attention to Pope Leo.
“It brings it home; I think knowing that he is someone that is a South Sider, he’s a local guy, I think makes the church a little bit closer to home,” Relstab said.
Relstab met Pope Leo when he visited Saint Jude Church in New Lenox last August.
“It was a nice time for him, vacation, quieter, just like having a brother or cousin; we put his room together, and say, ‘welcome, Bob,'” Relstab said. “I couldn’t even believe that someone I knew, spent time with, shared meals with is now the pope.”
A small contingent from the Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park is also heading across the pond.
“Not only the thrill, excitement of our own graduate chosen as pope, the other that thrills us so much is that this is such a gift for the whole church,” said Sister Barbara Reid, president of Catholic Theological Union.
Pope Leo earned his master’s degree of divinity at the school.
“I’m thrilled, been a week of thrilling graces,” said Father John Lydon, with the Augustinians.
Lydon worked and lived with Pope Leo in Peru for 10 years.
“We were very close to the poor, treated the poor with dignity at a time not common in Peru. Those are the values of Augustinians he will carry forth in his ministry as successor of St. Peter,” Lydon said.
Now, Pope Leo is leading the more than 1.4 billion Catholics around the world.
Watch Pope Leo’s installation Mass at 3 a.m. Sunday on ABC7 Chicago, or wherever you stream.
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