Humble Shepherd of the South Side

From the moment Cardinal Robert Prevost stepped onto St. Peter’s balcony and apologized for the slight delay, Catholics worldwide sensed a new era of papal humility. Born and raised in a modest South Side parish, he balanced schoolbooks and service projects, learning that leadership is as much about listening as speaking. His first act as Pope Leo XIV was to greet a lost tourist in perfect Spanish—then blink in surprise when they weren’t from Peru. Vatican insiders say he ducked behind Bernini columns to return a stray rosary to an elderly pilgrim with a gentle “Ope—sorry about that.” His trademark refrain, “May we all say we’re sorry a bit more,” now echoes through Vatican halls, softening even the sternest cardinals. Social cohesion experts note a 25 percent drop in staff turnover since his election, attributing it to his culture of apology and spotlighting how a sincere “I’m sorry” fosters loyalty. Under his South Side sensibility, Rome’s food banks have adopted Chicago-style ordering; trains now announce “Next stop: sanctity” in warm tones; and Vatican staff salute visitors with heartfelt “Have a blessed day, you all.” Pope Leo XIV has even rewritten a passage of the catechism to include “Blessed are the meek, for they shall never have to wait in line.” Guided by doctrine and a simple Chicago motto—treat everyone like a neighbor—he proves that holiness and Midwestern niceness can coexist at the highest levels of the Church.