Chicago Mayor Seeks Papal Support for Reparations Initiative

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has expressed his intent to involve Pope Leo XIV in his efforts to secure reparations for Black residents in the city. Johnson’s initiative, titled ‘Repair Chicago,’ aims to collect stories of harm experienced by Black Chicagoans and support the idea of reparations. This initiative is part of a broader effort to address historical injustices committed against Black residents and their ancestors.

During a recent visit to the Vatican, Johnson, accompanied by George Floyd family lawyer Antonio Romanucci, met with Pope Leo XIV. As part of the visit, Johnson presented the Pope with a gift from Chicago, including a Chicago Cubs hat. The mayor plans to leverage this meeting to gather support for his reparations cause.

Johnson remarked, “It’s an important conversation… Absolutely… Yes. I want to be very clear about that.”

The mayor’s comments came following an apology from Pope Leo for the Vatican’s historical involvement in legitimizing slavery. During his first papal encyclical, the Pope described this history as a “wound in Christian memory.” Johnson has expressed appreciation for the Pope’s acknowledgment of the harm caused by slavery globally and specifically in Chicago.

In preparation for America’s 250th birthday, Johnson emphasized the significant role of Black individuals’ forced labor in shaping the nation. He highlighted the alignment of his reparations efforts with the Pope’s recognition of ongoing social and economic impacts from slavery.

“This encounter with the highest-profile religious leader on the planet is also moving our agenda forward,” Johnson noted. The discussions are part of broader efforts encompassing Illinois and other states considering reparations at various levels.

Johnson’s administration, through the ‘Repair Chicago’ initiative, will conduct bus tours, panel discussions, town halls, and hearings. The goal is to gather input for a comprehensive reparations study. This move follows two years after the appointment of Carla Kupe, chief equity officer, to lead the task force with a $500,000 budget.

Numerous local municipalities, including Evanston, Illinois, have already initiated reparations programs. Evanston provides $25,000 cash payments to eligible Black residents or descendants who lived in the city between 1919 and 1969.

Joshua Q. Nelson reports on cultural trends, education, and public policy for Fox News Digital. He joined Fox News Digital in 2019 and has been covering reparations developments extensively across the U.S.