Delivering Pope Leo XIV His Preferred Chicago Pizza in Rome by Young Catholic Influencers
Pope Leo XIV, the 276th Pope, received an unexpected surprise during his weekly audience in St. Peter's Square, Rome, on July 30, 2023. A group of young Catholic influencers and content creators organised a unique gesture to show their support for the new Pope, delivering a Chicago-style pizza all the way from Illinois to Vatican City.
The pizza, a six-inch Aurelio's pepperoni pizza, was hand-delivered to Pope Leo XIV. The delivery was made while he was in his vehicle in Saint Peter's Square. Seeing the Aurelio's Pizza logo caused Pope Leo XIV to have a wide, excited smile.
The delivery was coordinated by Jayden Remias from Ohio and Jake Ochave from Virginia, who drove for 6 hours to Chicago to pick up the pizza. The delivery was shipped from Chicago and overcame several obstacles, including a van breakdown and security screenings, to reach its destination.
Pope Leo XIV, who was surrounded by babies during a surprise appearance at the Jubilee of Youth, expressed a desire to receive the pizza. The delivery was well-timed, as the Pope attended the opening Mass of the Jubilee of Youth, which was attended by over 100,000 young people on Tuesday.
In his first month as pope, there was a 30 percent increase in requests for blessings from Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican. The delivery of Aurelio's Pizza was a testament to the Pope's growing fan base and their enthusiasm for supporting him.
The delivery was made ahead of the shoot for the film "Captivated," in which Manasvi Mamgai met Pope Leo XIV in Rome. Madeline Daley contributed to the delivery by transporting the dish to Rome. Joe Aurelio, the president and CEO of Aurelio's Pizza, was also surprised by the delivery.
Pope Leo XIV celebrated the inauguration Mass of his pontificate in May this year, and the delivery of a Chicago-style pizza to the Vatican is a memorable event that will undoubtedly be remembered by the Pope and his followers for years to come.
[1] https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249087/pope-leo-xiv-receives-pizza-delivered-from-chicago-to-rome [2] https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/pope-leo-xiv-receives-pizza-delivered-from-chicago-to-rome/2972296/ [3] https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2023/07/31/pope-leo-xiv-receives-pizza-delivered-chicago-vatican/112995342/
[1] The delivery of Aurelio's Pizza, a Chicago-style favorite, to Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican exemplifies the enthusiasm of his supporters, who extend beyond religious spheres and delve into entertainment and pop-culture.
[2] Not only did celebrities from the film "Captivated" rub shoulders with Pope Leo XIV, but even Jayden Remias and Jake Ochave, ordinary content creators, seized the opportunity to bridge the gap between pop-culture and the holiest of seats, delivering the pizza to the man of the hour.
