One year of Pope Leo XIV: The Rundown
Good afternoon! It’s Friday, and this list may help you out if you need last-minute Mother’s Day plans. Here’s what you need to know today.
1. Pope Leo’s first year: How the Chicago native has stepped into the role
A year ago today, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV — the first U.S.-born pontiff — and began his papacy with four words that would come to define much of his first year: “Peace be with you.”
During President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign in Chicago, which began last September, the pope said he was troubled by the violent and at times “extremely disrespectful” ways migrants have been treated in the U.S.
In late November, Leo championed a two-state solution between Israel and Palestinians while on his first foreign trip as pope, saying it was the only way to resolve the conflict. On the same trip, Leo urged Turkey to act as a force for stability and peace amid the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars. He also traveled to Beirut and praised Christian and Muslim coexistence in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the pope said he was “very disappointed” Illinois approved a law allowing medical aid in dying after “explicitly” urging Gov. JB Pritzker to “respect the sacredness of life.” Pritzker said he signed the bill because he had been moved by stories of patients suffering from terminal illness.
Most recently, the pontiff has gone toe-to-toe with Trump, continuing to speak out against the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and calling for peace. And after Trump posted a now-deleted AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus healing a sick man, Leo responded directly. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Residents of south suburban Dolton, the pope’s hometown, said the changes in the village since his election have been mostly for the better. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Bartholomew, 38, was fatally shot last month at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital, allegedly by a robbery suspect he and his partner had brought in for an evaluation. The other officer was critically wounded. Bartholomew was a 10-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling and other officers, wearing their dress blues and pins with Bartholomew’s pictures on them, waited outside St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church in Edgewater to welcome Bartholomew’s family and pay their respects at the funeral this morning.
Bartholomew’s family was welcomed into the church with the sounds of bagpipes and officers riding horses. Blue ribbons were tied to nearby trees and an American flag hung over the church at the end of a fire truck’s ladder.
You can see photos of the service in the link. [Chicago Sun-Times]
3. Schools are scrambling after popular learning tool Canvas went offline after getting hacked
The shutdown forced the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to postpone all final exams and assignments scheduled for today, tomorrow and Sunday, school leaders told students in a message sent last night.
As my colleague Kalyn Belsha reports, thousands of K-12 school districts and colleges use Canvas nationwide, including U of I and Northwestern University, to manage classes, post assignments and communicate with students. Chicago Public Schools said it does not use Canvas and the district was not affected by the platform going offline.
Instructure, which runs Canvas, said the platform is back online today. But some colleges still caution against using it.
Instructure said last week that it had experienced a “cybersecurity incident perpetrated by a criminal threat actor” that exposed users’ names, email addresses and student ID numbers, as well as internal messages. [WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times]
Johnson’s 48-hour lobbying trip included a dinner with members of the legislative Black Caucus, meetings with House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Senate President Don Harmon, a Latino Unity Day event and a news conference with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.
Much of the attention focused on a megaprojects bill that would allow the Chicago Bears to negotiate payments rather than paying property taxes to help them build a new stadium in Arlington Heights. Johnson aims to thwart that bill as he pushes to keep the Bears in Chicago.
But the mayor remained tight-lipped about an alternative plan. He referenced a detailed, $4.7 billion domed lakefront stadium plan he endorsed in 2024 but would not tell WBEZ if he wants lawmakers to take up that specific proposal or give him time to craft a new one. [WBEZ]
5. Chicago Sinfonietta will pause programs until 2027 and lay off staff amid financial challenges
A spokesperson confirmed the group will lay off its seven administrative staffers, leaving President and CEO Sidney Jackson as the only full-time employee. The orchestra will still play this weekend’s concerts, including a rendition of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” a tribute to Miles Davis and a performance of William Dawson’s “Negro Folk Symphony” in Naperville and Evanston.
As my colleague Erica Thompson reports, the orchestra plans to relaunch public programs in 2027, which marks its 40th anniversary. It will also present a fundraising event tied to MLK Day.
Concert attendance and audience contributions have not returned to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, according to a statement. As a result, the organization will focus on fundraising and sustainability planning during a “strategic renewal period.” [Chicago Sun-Times]
Here’s what else is happening
- In a major blow to Democrats, the Virginia Supreme Court struck down the party’s redrawn congressional maps. [AP]
- The Court of International Trade ruled against a second round of Trump tariffs. [NPR]
- U.S. employers added a surprisingly strong 115,000 jobs last month. [AP]
- A Chicago-area woman finally received a kidney transplant, thanks to a Chicago Sun-Times reader, after years of searching. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Oh, and one more thing …
Chicago Cabaret Week is expanding in 2026, bringing intimate, engaging and eclectic shows into more venues and neighborhoods, my colleague Erica Thompson reports.
Starting today and running until May 17, the festival features more than 50 artists across multiple locations, including four new spots: Stars & Garters, Bughouse Theater, The Labyrinth Club and The Redhead Piano Bar.
This year’s lineup promises to be as diverse as ever, with vocal groups, burlesque performances, a play about the Equal Rights Amendment and tributes to Carol Burnett, Linda Ronstadt and Tony Bennett. The event is organized by the nonprofits Working in Concert and Chicago Cabaret Professionals, and tickets are priced at $30 or less to keep the shows accessible.
You can see three standout performers in the link. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Tell me something good …
A lot of changes are coming to Chicago-area malls, from Lincolnwood Town Center’s imminent closure to Water Tower Place’s upcoming revamp. So I’m wondering, what are your favorite mall memories?
Lisa writes:
“As a child visiting my grandmother in Homewood, my brother and I would beg to go to Lincoln Mall. I distinctly remember the completely unique McDonalds with its lime green and black brocade walls. I have tried to find pictures, but no luck so far.”
Charlie writes:
“When we first visited Lincolnwood Town Center coming in on the upper level, our young boy immediately took notice of the animal-shaped cars below kids could rent and drive around the mall. He was a bit too small to ride solo so I had to squeeze in behind him. He then attempted to steer us into columns, store windows, and unsuspecting shoppers, and shake violently enough to nearly knock us over, all while laughing maniacally. Thankfully no harm was done and he thoroughly enjoyed it, even if it did earn me extra grey hairs. We came back multiple times before he grew out of it.
Also, as a Blues Brothers movie fan, I can’t help think about Dixie Square Mall down in Harvey (RIP). ‘This mall has everything!’ ‘Do you have a Ms. Piggy?’ and ‘They broke my watch!’ are some of the quotes from that iconic scene. It was demolished just before I moved to Chicago.”
Ethan writes:
“Growing up in the Northwest Suburbs in the 80s and 90s, Woodfield Mall was our playground and home away from home. I have fond memories of the now removed aquarium, the now removed slide and play area, the now removed movie theater, both in the mall and the two just outside the mall. I saw many of the formative movies that cultivated my love of cinema at the various Woodfield theaters.
Perhaps the element of Woodfield I miss the most is the dearly departed John’s Garage restaurant. Casual dining to be sure, but a step up from the fast food in the mall. I’m sure most people my age have first date and early courtship memories of John’s Garage, not to mention maybe the best French Onion soup the Schaumburg area ever had on offer.”
Thanks for all the responses this week! I couldn’t include them all, but it was great hearing from everyone.
Discussion in the ATmosphere