The documentary “Leo From Chicago” tells the story of Leo XIV’s childhood, faith and humanity, from baseball to the Blues Brothers to the mission in Peru
Once upon a time there was a child who he loved cycling, mathematics and playing baseball in the street. Well, that kid was Robert Francis Prevost — to the “Bob” brothers — and today the world knows him as Pope Leo XIV. Six months after his election, the Vatican media tell his story in the documentary Leo From Chicago, an intimate and human portrait of the first American pontiff, who grew up in the small suburb of Dolton, on the outskirts of the “Windy City”. In front of his brick house, at number 212 East 141st Place, today people stop to pray and touch the door, almost as if seeking grace through the memory of that simple boy who dreamed of being a priest.
From the basement to God’s dream
Robert he grows up in a devout Catholic family but without fanaticism. Every evening, after dinner, the parents recite the rosary; in the morning, the mother is at Mass at six. He, with his brothers, «celebrates» his «Mass» in the cellar on an ironing board covered with a tablecloth. «It wasn’t a game – they say – he knew all the prayers in Latin». One day a nun told him: “Robert Prevost, one day you could become Pope.” And everyone laughed. And yet there was nothing to laugh about, the “prophecy” came true.
Math, cars and the Blues Brothers
The documentary directed by Deborah Castellano Lubov, Salvatore Cernuzio and Felipe Herrera-Espaliat presents an “American” Pope in the best sense of the term: curious, concrete, lover of life.
At the Villanova UniversityRobert he studies mathematics, but finds the direction of his vocation in philosophy and theology. Driving relaxes him — “he loved Fords”friends say — and even walked fourteen hours straight to get back to Chicago. Baseball remains his passion: he cheers White Sox and in 2005 he climbed into the stands to watch the World Series.
And then the cinema: The Blues Brothersset in Chicago, made him laugh out loud. In one photo he appears with the same black glasses as Belushi and Aykroyd: a Pope «on the mission from God», they would say.
The friend who listens
In the documentary, his brothers and friends remember him as “a boy who knows how to listen”. An episode as a child tells it better than a thousand words: when a gang of peers threatened to throw them and their bikes into the river, Rob got out and started talking to them. Five minutes later, they were all running together. He had the gift of transforming fear into dialogue, hostility into trust – qualities which remained intact throughout the rest of his episcopal career.
From Peru to Rome, passing through the world
After orderingPrevost chooses the path of the Augustinian missionaries and he leaves for Peru, where he spends decades among the poorest people. As general of the Order he visited over fifty countries, but he remains a simple man, away from the spotlight.
In 2023 Pope Francis called him to Rome to lead the Dicastery of Bishops. Less than two years later, the conclave elected him the 267th Bishop of Rome. When, on 8 May 2025, Leo XIV appears on the loggia of San Pietro, the voice cracks: «I am a son of Saint Augustine, with you I am a Christian, for you a bishop.”
A normal (and extraordinary) man
«Leo From Chicago» does not construct a hagiography but an authentic biography, narrated by the characters who knew the “earthly” man before the “spiritual” man.
Between black and white photos, the old Aurelio’s pizzeria which today serves «Poperoni», and the testimonies of family and friends, a person emerges who never tried to command, but to serve. A Pope who loved engines and mathematics, but above all people. A human Pope.
