Catholic Youth Deliver Favorite Chicago Pizza to Pope Leo XIV in Rome
Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, was in for a surprise on July 30, 2023, when he received a special delivery in Saint Peter's Square. The pizza in question came from Aurelio's Pizza, a beloved pizzeria in Chicago's south suburbs, and held a special connection for the Pope as his hometown spot.
The delivery was made by a group of young Catholic influencers, who recognised the Pope's well-known love for Chicago pizza and sports, such as the Chicago White Sox. The pizza travelled over 4,000 miles from Chicago to the Vatican, and the Pope's reaction upon receiving it was priceless. He smiled "from ear to ear" at the sight of the Aurelio's Pizza logo.
During a Jubilee of Youth event, the Pope had expressed a strong desire for the pizza delivery, much to the delight of the crowd. The delivery made on that day brought joy to the Pope, who was surrounded by babies during the event. The pizza, a six-inch Aurelio's pepperoni pizza, was shipped using dry ice to ensure its freshness.
In his first month as Pope, there was a 30 percent increase in requests for blessings from Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican. This pizza delivery added another memorable moment to the Pope's tenure, demonstrating his connection to his roots in Chicago.
The President and CEO of Aurelio's Pizza, Joe Aurelio, was surprised by the delivery and expressed his delight at the honour. Jayden Remias from Ohio and Jake Ochave from Virginia drove for 6 hours to Chicago for the pizza pickup, demonstrating the lengths fans will go to for their favourite pizza.
Pope Leo XIV made a surprise appearance at the Jubilee of Youth and celebrated the opening Mass, which was attended by over 100,000 young people on Tuesday. During the event, he also met Manasvi Mamgai and Al Pacino, who were in Rome for a shoot for the film "Captivated".
This pizza delivery has created a warm link between Pope Leo XIV’s roots in Chicago and his current role in the Vatican. It serves as a reminder that even the highest office in the Catholic Church can't stop a Pope from craving his favourite Chicago pizza.
[1] https://www.apnews.com/article/pope-chicago-pizza-aurelios-leo-xiv-67f7605b1726a704032c664d2a1c125f [2] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-leo-xiv-receives-pizza-delivery-from-chicago-aurelios-pizza/ [3] https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248470/pope-leo-xiv-receives-pizza-delivery-from-chicago-aurelios-pizza [4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2023/07/31/pope-leo-xiv-receives-pizza-delivery-from-chicago-aurelios-pizza/
- The unexpected pizza delivery, originating from Aurelio's Pizza in Chicago, not only reminded Pope Leo XIV of his hometown but also aligned his papal journey with pop-culture, as the delivery was facilitated by Catholic influencers.
- As people outside the Vaticic walls were engrossed in celebrity news and pop-culture, Pope Leo XIV, during a meeting with Manasvi Mamgai and Al Pacino, eyes were still on him, with the unusual event of a pizza delivery from Aurelio's Pizza trending worldwide.
