Image via Riccardo De Luca - Update / Shutterstock.

White smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel, and the world rejoiced. Habemus Papam! The Church had a new shepherd: Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope.

For Catholics across the United States, it was more than a moment in Vatican history. It felt personal. The son of a working-class family from Dolton, Illinois, Pope Leo’s story reminds us that faith grows in ordinary homes and humble parishes.

Joe Boland, Chief Mission Officer of the Catholic Extension Society, was in Rome for the election. “It’s an amazing time to be Catholic,” he says. 

From the South Side to St. Peter’s

Pope Leo grew up surrounded by steel mills and train yards, in a neighborhood where faith anchored daily life. His parents taught him hard work and humility. His brother still lives in the Chicago suburbs and talks with him every day. “He’s grounded,” Boland shares.

That sense of reality shows in his warmth and approachability. Friends describe him as a man who listens deeply and laughs easily – someone who never forgot his love of pizza and the Chicago White Sox. His brother, a Cubs fan, likes to joke that “the Pope of unity” grew up in a divided baseball house.

A Pilgrimage to His Beginnings

Soon after the election, bishops from across the world made a pilgrimage to his childhood parish. They prayed in the same pews where young Robbie first received the sacraments and heard God’s call. The neighborhood remains surrounded by industry, but the church still stands as a reminder of true hope.

Joe Boland reflects, “Right in the middle of all that noise and hard work was faith. The Church was the anchor.”

It’s no accident that Pope Leo chose the name Leo, recalling Pope Leo XIII, who championed the dignity of workers in Rerum Novarum. Growing up among factory workers and truck drivers, Pope Leo XIV carries that same conviction – faith must always lift up the poor and defend human dignity.

His First Message: Dilexi Te

This month, Pope Leo released his first apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te  – "I Have Loved You." Signed on October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, it calls Catholics to rediscover love for the poor as the heart of faith.

Joe Boland, who began reading it at dawn, said, “Wow. It fills you with pride to be Catholic.” The Pope traces how care for the poor reveals the face of Christ – from Scripture to the saints to our own lives. 

A Pope for the People

For many, Pope Leo XIV represents both renewal and reminder that holiness begins at home, in the midst of daily life. His voice speaks to factory towns, parishes, and families that know what hard work and hope feel like.

From the South Side of Chicago to St. Peter’s Square, his story captures the heart of American Catholicism: ordinary faith, extraordinary grace.

The white smoke that rose in Rome was a sign of new hope – hope that faith still transforms the world, one humble soul at a time.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Image via Riccardo De Luca - Update / Shutterstock.
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White smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel, and the world rejoiced. Habemus Papam! The Church had a new shepherd: Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope.
For Catholics across the United States, it was more than a moment in Vatican history. It felt personal. The son of a working-class family from Dolton, Illinois, Pope Leo&rsquo;s story reminds us that faith grows in ordinary homes and humble parishes.
Joe Boland, Chief Mission Officer of the Catholic Extension Society, was in Rome for the election. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s an amazing time to be Catholic,&rdquo; he says.&nbsp;
From the South Side to St. Peter&rsquo;s
Pope Leo grew up surrounded by steel mills and train yards, in a neighborhood where faith anchored daily life. His parents taught him hard work and humility. His brother still lives in the Chicago suburbs and talks with him every day. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s grounded,&rdquo; Boland shares.
That sense of reality shows in his warmth and approachability. Friends describe him as a man who listens deeply and laughs easily &ndash; someone who never forgot his love of&nbsp;pizza and the Chicago White Sox. His brother, a Cubs fan, likes to joke that &ldquo;the Pope of unity&rdquo; grew up in a divided baseball house.
A Pilgrimage to His Beginnings
Soon after the election, bishops from across the world made a pilgrimage to his childhood parish. They prayed in the same pews where young Robbie first received the sacraments and heard God&rsquo;s call. The neighborhood remains surrounded by industry, but the church still stands as a reminder of true hope.
Joe Boland reflects, &ldquo;Right in the middle of all that noise and hard work was faith. The Church was the anchor.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s no accident that Pope Leo chose the name Leo, recalling Pope Leo XIII, who championed the dignity of workers in Rerum Novarum. Growing up among factory workers and truck drivers, Pope Leo XIV carries that same conviction &ndash; faith must always lift up the poor and defend human dignity.
His First Message: Dilexi Te
This month, Pope Leo released his first apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te&nbsp; &ndash; "I Have Loved You." Signed on October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, it calls Catholics to rediscover love for the poor as the heart of faith.
Joe Boland, who began reading it at dawn, said, &ldquo;Wow. It fills you with pride to be Catholic.&rdquo; The Pope traces how care for the poor reveals the face of Christ &ndash; from Scripture to the saints to our own lives.&nbsp;
A Pope for the People
For many, Pope Leo XIV represents both renewal and reminder that holiness begins at home, in the midst of daily life. His voice speaks to factory towns, parishes, and families that know what hard work and hope feel like.
From the South Side of Chicago to St. Peter&rsquo;s Square, his story captures the heart of American Catholicism: ordinary faith, extraordinary grace.
The white smoke that rose in Rome was a sign of new hope &ndash; hope that faith still transforms the world, one humble soul at a time.
<hr>
The&nbsp;best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

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