Our 267th pope, leader of Roman Catholics (including myself) from around the world, celebrates his 70th birthday today.
According to Vatican statistics gathered in 2023 and released to the public, there are approximately 1.4 billion Roman Catholics in the world as of early 2025, based on records of baptized Catholics and revealing the growing numbers that come from Africa and the Americas, which are the geographical homes to the majority of our globe’s Catholic population.
It was just a few short months ago on May 8, 2025, when puffs of white smoke led to the revelation that Pope Leo XIV was elected as the first American pope, with an added blessing that he was born and raised just outside Chicago in Dolton as Robert Francis Prevost, who rose to the duties of a cardinal in South America. Pope Francis, who died at age 88 on April 21, had been pleased with how the cardinal managed the church’s needs in Latin America.
It was in April 2014 when John Paul II and John XXIII were canonized at the Vatican by Pope Francis.
As I’ve mentioned in previous columns, John Paul II is the first pope of my recollection as a youth.
And since he was Polish, this was an extra special honor and attachment cherished by my family. He remained our beloved pope from Oct. 16, 1978, until April 2, 2005, when he passed away 46 days short of his 85th birthday. This made him the second-longest-serving pope in history, and his Polish heritage made him the first non-Italian since Pope Adrian VI, who died in 1523.
I was only 9 years old at the time when Pope John Paul II came to Chicago for two days in October 1979, and I still recall how excited my family members were about the event. Everyone from my aunts and uncles who lived in the Polish neighborhoods around Midway Airport in Chicago to my aunts and uncles at our farm was excited.
I still smile when I think back to how my Auntie Lilly, who lived at the farm with Grandma Potempa, took photographs of the television screen in the living room to capture images of the live coverage of the Chicago NBC news coverage. This 1979 visit carried an added distinction as he was only the second pope to visit the United States, and the first to come to Chicago. He held mass for thousands who gathered in Chicago’s Grant Park, as well as attending a special event at Holy Name Cathedral with Chicago’s Cardinal John Cody and featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
I’m certain Pope Leo will also visit the Windy City in the near future. His hometown of Dolton is hosting its own birthday celebration Sunday at his childhood brick home (three bedrooms, two bathrooms) at 212 East 141st Place, which was recently purchased by Dolton officials in July for $375,000 to create a museum. The address has already become a popular tourist destination.
Pope Francis, in 2023, officiated at part of the process and ceremony to elevate Robert Francis Prevost, now Leo XIV, to cardinal. (Riccardo De Luca/Associated Press)
Next month, Stella Maris Tours is offering a bus trip hosted by Father Rick Holy as a one-day pilgrimage “to walk in the footsteps of Pope Leo” on Monday, Oct. 20. Guests will travel by coach bus departing from St. Edward in Lowell and hear the Pope’s life narrated while seeing sites surrounding Pope Leo’s life as led in prayer segments. Some of the stops along the way include a visit to the pope’s parents’ tombs, the childhood home site, and the parish of his youth, as well as the college he attended and where he lived as prior of the Augustinian order, as well as the gorgeous church where he was ordained a deacon. The cost is $150 per person, which includes transportation, tours and tip. To register to join the excursion, call Marcie at (219) 293-1270 or email her at Marcie.StellaMaristours@gmail.com.
While Aurelio’s Pizza in Homewood and owner Joe Aurelio beam about their pepperoni pizza being Pope Leo’s favorite (since he dined at that location during his priestly days), the papal taste buds are also partial to Latin American menu fare such as “goat stew.”
For today’s birthday celebration recipe, I’m sharing Pope Leo’s late mother Mildred’s “sloppy Joe” recipe, which she refers to as “Messy Josephs” on a typed recipe card included with the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Cookbook, according to Jean Koehler of Dolton. The card is marked as provided by “Millie Provost Dec. 1, 1981.”
Pope Leo attended St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic School in Dolton, where he also served as an altar boy. Koehler says this recipe was also served on school lunch trays.
Columnist Philip Potempa has published four cookbooks and is a radio host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at PhilPotempa@gmail.com or mail your questions: From the Farm, PO Box 68, San Pierre, Ind. 46374.
Pope Leo’s Mom’s Messy Joseph Sandwiches
Makes 8 servings
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sweet relish, undrained
2 cups catsup
Directions:
1. Brown meat and drain any grease before adding onion and cooking until soft.
2. In a bowl, combine remaining ingredients and add to cooking skillet with meat.
3. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes until ingredients are well blended.
4. Serve hot on sandwich buns.