In the midst of the worldwide excitement over Pope Leo XIV’s election, a personal connection from Naperville, Illinois emerged. Anne, a listener, shared a heartwarming story on The Patrick Madrid Show that shines a spotlight on the Pope’s humble beginnings.

Before he was Cardinal Robert Prevost, before he was the Vicar of Christ, Pope Leo XIV was a student at St. Rita of Cascia High School, an all-boys Catholic school run by the Augustinians on the southwest side of Chicago. Anne’s five brothers also attended the school, and she remembers how the Augustinians left a lasting impact on young Robert, planting the seeds of his vocation.

Patrick highlighted how the Pope’s spiritual formation began in those halls. Surrounded by the teachings and traditions of St. Augustine, young Robert developed a profound love for Augustine’s writings — a love that would define his path through seminary, his years as a missionary in Peru, and eventually, his rise to the papacy.

The Augustinian influence continued as Pope Leo XIV pursued his education at Villanova University, another major Augustinian institution. It was there that his faith deepened, his studies intensified, and his call to serve solidified.

Patrick couldn’t help but joke that we’re about to hear a wave of stories about the Pope’s teenage years — from where he used to grab lunch to odd jobs he might have had before seminary. These stories remind us that the Pope, now the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics, started out just like so many others — a kid from the south side of Chicago, discovering his faith one day at a time.

Pope Leo XIV’s journey from a St. Rita Mustang to the Bishop of Rome is a testament to the power of faith, the importance of Catholic education, and the impact of everyday moments on a person’s path to sainthood. Stay tuned for more personal stories as the world gets to know our new Holy Father.