Chicago celebrates holy week as pope leo xiv marks first easter

Across Chicago and beyond, communities observed Good Friday with somber reflection and vibrant traditions, a prelude to Easter celebrationscapped by Pope Leo XIV’s historic first Easter as pontiff.

A chicago-born pope's impact resonates nationwide

The significance of this Holy Week is amplified by the presence of Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope in history. His decision to carry the wooden cross for all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross in Rome—a ritual not witnessed in decades—underscores a renewed sense of devotion. “There's something happening, the spirit is really moving in Chicago and also throughout the country,” noted Father Andy Matijevic of Holy Name Cathedral, suggesting a palpable “Leo effect” across the nation.

In Little Village, a Chicago neighborhood steeped in tradition, reenactments of the crucifixion drew crowds, a testament to the enduring power of this central event in the Christian faith. At Holy Name Cathedral, attendees expressed a unique blend of pride and reverence. “The fact that it's the pope's first Easter, I wish he was doing it here, but I'm really happy for him,