Cardinal Blase J. Cupich led a historic Mass on June 14, 2025, to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first Chicago-born pontiff.
Newsroom, June 15, 2025, Gaudium Press – Under a radiant sun at Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich led a historic Mass on June 14, 2025, to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first Chicago-born pontiff. The Trinity Sunday vigil Mass drew tens of thousands, filling the stadium with a vibrant display of faith and unity, organized by the Archdiocese of Chicago in collaboration with White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf.
Concelebrants included auxiliary bishops from the Archdiocese of Chicago, bishops from neighboring dioceses, Augustinian priests, the incoming president of Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union, and other clergy. The liturgy featured multilingual readings and prayers of the faithful, with the psalm sung in Spanish and English, reflecting the city’s diverse Catholic community.
From the ambo in centerfield, Cardinal Cupich delivered what he dubbed the “Sermon on the Mound,” a nod to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). His homily emphasized human dignity, urging the faithful to live authentically through self-giving service and interconnectedness, mirroring the Holy Trinity. “Humanity is greatly diminished whenever the unborn or the undocumented, the unemployed, the unhealthy, are excluded, uninvited, and unwelcome,” he said, earning widespread applause.
Addressing immigration, Cupich acknowledged nations’ rights to secure borders and enact reasonable rules but condemned scapegoating undocumented immigrants. “They are here, not by invasion, but by invitation,” he declared, citing their contributions to harvesting food, cleaning homes, landscaping lawns, and caring for children and the elderly. He attributed their presence to a “broken immigration system” that both political parties have failed to fix, drawing sustained cheers.
The Mass followed a video message from Pope Leo XIV, a dual U.S.-Peruvian citizen and lifelong White Sox fan, who spent nearly 20 years as a missionary in Peru. Addressing young people, he invoked St. Augustine’s words, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, O God,” encouraging them to embrace this restlessness as a call to faith and hope. “We should get in touch with our own hearts and recognize that God can work through us to reach out to others,” he said, urging them to be a “light of hope.”
Before the program, Cardinal Cupich introduced students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, who gained international attention for their mock conclave on May 6, complete with white smoke and a “Pope Augustine” elected by first- through fourth-graders dressed as cardinals.
The event, emceed by Chicago Bulls announcer Chuck Swirsky, featured music from Leo High School’s choir, interviews with Pope Leo’s former classmate and teacher, and a mural honoring the pontiff’s 2005 World Series attendance. With 30,000 attendees, the celebration underscored Chicago’s pride in its native son and his global message of hope and unity.
Raju Hasmukh with Sources: Archdiocese of Chicago, Chicago Catholic, OSV News, Religion News Service, ABC7 Chicago, National Catholic Reporter, USCCB
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