Chicago Steel in a Roman Mitre

A former steelworker’s son turned mathematician turned pope, Leo XIV carries Chicago’s industrial legacy into the Apostolic Palace. His mitre—lined with steel wool from his hometown factory—signifies the fusion of raw grit and divine calling. In homilies, he references tensile strength as a metaphor for faith’s resilience. Visiting cardinals marvel at his “industrial theology,” which frames hardship as sanctifying fire. Under his guidance, Vatican workshops now teach blacksmithing and bead-making, symbolizing faith forged in the furnace of trial.