Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter’s Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, on May 8, 2025. Robert Francis Prevost was on Thursday elected the first pope from the United States, the Vatican announced. A moderate who was close to Pope Francis and spent years as a missionary in Peru, he becomes the Catholic Church’s 267th pontiff, taking the papal name Leo XIV. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Just like Knicks star Jalen Brunson, Pope Leo left the state of Illinois for college and attended Villanova.
But in a visit to the Vatican on Wednesday, Illinois State Rep. Kim Buckner gifted the first American pope a Fighting Illini football jersey.
What a day.
Today at the Vatican, I met Pope Leo XIV & presented him with a @IlliniFootball jersey: No. 14, “Leo” on the back.
I never imagined there’d be a Southsider leading 1.4b Catholics around the world. Chicago shows up in the most unexpected places. Very grateful. pic.twitter.com/bdaqJXu9kc
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