A Pope from Chicago’s South Side named Leo requires Leo High School to take action, in honor of our namesake, Pope Leo XIII, whom new Pope Leo XIV cited in explaining the name he picked when he became the surprise choice to succeed the late Pope Francis as head of the Catholic Church last week.
So we held a Prayer Service at Leo in the new Pope’s honor on Monday, May 12.
Mrs. Lydia Tabernacki and Mr. Daniel Ridges from the Theology Department put the service together. School President Dan McGrath explained that Leo, when it opened in 1926, was named for Pope Leo XIII, who is remembered as a champion for human rights, civil rights and the rights of working people.
“Throughout its history, Leo has shared his commitment to justice, fairness and the dignity of all people,” McGrath said. “Pope Leo XIV’s presence at the head of the Church will be a daily reminder that we here at Leo must honor that commitment, always.”
The world-renowned Leo Choir performed two songs, twins Stephen and Stephan Jackson read passages from scripture, and Father Michael Pfleger delivered an inspirational, high-energy message to Leo’s students:
“If a boy from the South Side of Chicago can grow up to become one of the most powerful figures in the world, boys who are currently growing up on the South Side should follow his example by setting their goals high and never be dissuaded from achieving them,” Father Pfleger said.
“Pope Leo is what they call an influencer, already one of the top 10 influencers in the world,” Father Pfleger added. “And he has Creole-Haitian blood, so he’s a brother! From the South Side of Chicago!
“So what are you young brothers from the South Side of Chicago gonna do?”
Dr. Shaka Rawls, Leo’s Principal, cited the Pope as an example of a man’s determination to be all he can be despite daunting odds — in more than 2,000 years, no American had ever been elected Pope before.
“I’m not saying anyone in this room can become Pope,” Dr. Rawls said. “But anyone in this room can achieve greatness once they decide what they want to do and lock in on it.”
The service drew a great deal of media attention, with each Chicago TV station filing a story. Junior Stephen Jackson is from Dolton, the same town where Pope Leo XIV grew up as Bobby Prevost.
“It’s really inspiring to me that a man from the town where I live can become one of the most important people in the world,” Stephen told Fox Chicago’s Joanie Lum. “It helps me believe I can do something great with my life, and it makes me want to.”