The Vatican premieres ‘Leo from Chicago’, a documentary about the origins of the Pope in the US

The Vatican launched this Monday through its YouTube channel the documentary titled Leo from Chicagoa production that narrates the origins, the family history and the religious vocation of the Pope in his native placewith testimonies from close people such as his brothers Louis and John.

This audiovisual work, which constitutes the second installment after the premiere of Lion of Peru last June, focuses on the pontiff’s childhood in the town of Dolton, located in the Chicago metropolitan area. As his brother Louis explains in the film, the family lived in a modest home that had only one room, as well as a bathroom, kitchen, living room and dining room. From that humble environment, the vocational path of Robert Francis Prevostas he was called before being elected Pope.

With a total duration of 52 minutes, the documentary reconstructs the pontiff’s life journey in the United States through the memories and testimonies of family, lifelong friends, fellow students and former teachers. Among the materials included, Unpublished photographs are exhibited that portray his childhood and youthmany of them in the company of their parents and siblings, as well as snapshots with their friends, with whom they shared experiences that forged their character and spirituality.

In one of the most emotional passages, his brothers remember that from a very young age he showed a unique personality. “He was special from the moment he was born,” they say. Raised in a Catholic home where the practice of faith was common—his mother attended mass every morning before preparing her children for school— Robert Francis He followed that religious path that would lead him years later to the priesthood and, finally, to the pontificate.

One of the most striking moments in the story is provided by Louis, who recalls that on one occasion, a nun commented to her brother at school: “Robert Francis, you could be Pope one day.”

The film also allows us to learn more personal aspects of the Pontiff, such as his love of driving, his affable and simple character, his inclination to study and his sense of humorwhich, according to those who know him, has been a constant in his life.

Available in Spanish, Italian and English, the production includes images of the environment in which he grew up, as well as other significant places in his life itinerary. It is also They collect anecdotes and curious detailssuch as his predilection for the typical Chicago pepperoni pizza and his interest in gastronomy.

The documentary was made by journalists Deborah Castellano-Lubov, Salvatore Cernuzio and Felipe Herrera-Espaliatwith editing Jaime Vizcaíno Haro. The film has been produced by the Editorial Directorate of the Dicastery for Communication, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Apostolate El Sombrador Nueva Evangelización (ESNE).

In the next few days, Leo from Chicago It will be screened in various Italian cities. The presentations are scheduled for November 21 in Vicenza and Cremona, on the 25th in Trento, on December 1 in Verona, on the 5th in Genoa and on the 15th in Cagliari, according to Vatican sources.

This new production adds to the Vatican’s effort to bring the figure of the Pope closer to the public through an intimate and close approach, highlighting his roots, his training and the values ​​that have accompanied him since his first years of life.