On this episode of Morning Air, Mary Hallan FioRito joins to talk about her unforgettable week in Rome during the Conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV: a Chi-Town native and a man of the people, through and through.
The Eternal City: Waiting, Wondering, White Smoke!
Mary paints a vivid picture of Rome buzzing with anticipation. Think: solemn prayers, camera crews jockeying for position, and faithful pilgrims camping out for a glimpse of history.
She describes the spirit of the conclave as “electrifying”. Yes, that’s the word. Even though there was a lot of waiting, the atmosphere was tinged with hope, prayer, and whispered predictions.
She visited the tombs of St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI: sacred stops that deepened the spiritual weight of the moment.
The drama peaked during dinner. Just as they sat down to eat, “White Smoke!” lit up her phone. A waiter ran in yelling “Fumo Bianco!” and the whole restaurant literally sprinted to St. Peter’s Square.
Habeamus Papam… from Chicago?!
Pope Leo XIV is Robert Francis Prevost, a priest with deep Chicago roots, born from the humble steel-town suburb of Dolton, Illinois.
Though born in the U.S., he served most of his ministry in Peru and holds dual citizenship.
Fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian, and seasoned in Vatican diplomacy, Pope Leo came prepared with both the skills and the soul for the job.
When his name was announced… Mary was standing right there in the square, emotional, speechless, and suddenly being interviewed by the news. Classic Rome moment.
Where Holiness Took Root: The Rise & Fall of Dolton, IL
It was once a neighborhood of the American Dream: steel jobs, modest homes, and tight-knit Catholic families.
Pope Leo grew up in a three-bedroom Cape Cod, walked a couple blocks to St. Mary of the Assumption School and later headed to an Augustinian seminary in Michigan.
The story is both nostalgic and authentic… a reminder that grace can emerge from gritty, blue-collar places. 🌆✨
You can read her article “The Rise and Fall of the Chicago Suburb that Raised Pope Leo XIV.”
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