Mayor Johnson Prepares for Vatican Visit with Chicago Agenda

Mayor Brandon Johnson visited a South Side restaurant on Sunday before heading to the Vatican. He connected with supporters, sharing his agenda of discussing foreign affairs, affordability, and Chicago sports with Pope Leo XIV. Johnson humorously stated he plans to give the Chicago-born Pope, a well-known White Sox admirer, a Cubs hat. He assured the Sox-supporting crowd, saying, “Just relax. We know what team he roots for.”

When asked if he intended to convert the Pope to a Cubs fan, Johnson steered the conversation to the Chicago Bears. “I do know one thing that we’re all on the same page about, is that the pope believes, like I believe, that the Bears belong in Chicago,” Johnson stated. This comment connected to ongoing negotiations in Springfield over a bill that may require the NFL team to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights. Johnson prefers a city-based stadium plan, favoring the 2024 proposal for a domed facility near Soldier Field, dependent on public funding.

This week, Johnson travels to Rome with a World Business Chicago delegation, marking the first Chicago mayor’s visit to the Vatican in ten years. At the South Side soul food restaurant, Johnson outlined his discussion points for Thursday’s meeting, focusing on their shared opposition to “endless illegal wars” and his executive actions during President Trump’s second term. However, he did not confirm if Trump would be part of the Vatican discussion.

Johnson also honored Jacqueline Jackson, widow of his mentor Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., as he shared his objectives for the trip. “I’m going to do my best to channel the great humanitarian and civil rights leader in Rev. Jesse Jackson, and … how the pope has used his pulpit to really shine a light on the conditions that exist around the globe,” Johnson expressed. “In this season, we’re going to need the pulpit and the pen to come together to deliver justice for all of humanity.”

The mayor has enacted several executive orders aimed at limiting federal immigration enforcement in Chicago. His progressive supporters praised his stance against the prior year’s Operation Midway Blitz deportation campaign and other Trump administration actions. His team has not disclosed the travel delegation or costs, covered by WBC. Religious leaders like Bishop Horace E. Smith and Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann confirmed their attendance.

Johnson’s chief business contact, Charles Smith, may join but prioritizes Bears stadium negotiations as Springfield concludes its session. Earlier, the mayor attended mass at St. Benedict the African in Englewood. Often using religious imagery, Johnson participates in Lawndale Christian Church activities. “We’re really grateful that Pope Leo has his roots right here in Chicago,” Johnson stated. “Chicago has been the epicenter for justice, and I’m going to make sure I use this opportunity to lift up, of course, the work that he’s doing exposing the catastrophes and the evils of the world, while also bringing hope to the world.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson shook hands with Calvin Brown at a gathering before meeting Pope Leo XIV at Peach’s Restaurant on May 24, 2026, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)