Context:

Pope Leo XIV grew up in a vibrant Catholic community on Chicago's South Side, centered around St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, which was bustling in the 1950s and 1960s. Over time, this Catholic enclave disappeared due to demographic shifts and economic challenges, leading to the merging and eventual closure of the parish. The decline of such neighborhoods is emblematic of broader changes in Catholic America, where urban parishes that once anchored communities have vanished, leaving behind decaying structures. This transformation reflects the historical movement of white Catholics, who stayed longer in urban neighborhoods than other groups but eventually moved to suburbs as neighborhoods evolved. Despite these changes, Pope Leo XIV's upbringing in a working-class, Catholic environment on the South Side played a significant role in shaping his character and career in the Catholic Church.

Dive Deeper:

• Pope Leo XIV's childhood was deeply tied to the Catholic community at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Chicago, where his family was active, and the church played a central role in their lives during the 1950s and 1960s.

• The Catholic enclave on Chicago's South Side has disappeared, with parishioners dispersing to the suburbs and the parish merging with others due to declining attendance and economic challenges.

• The transformation of these neighborhoods is part of a larger narrative of Catholic America, where urban parishes that once served as community anchors have been adversely affected by demographic and cultural shifts.

• Historically, white Catholics remained in urban neighborhoods longer than other groups, but eventually, they too moved out as racial demographics changed, leading to the decline of many Catholic institutions.

• Pope Leo XIV's childhood in a working-class, Catholic neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago influenced his values and career, even as he later lived abroad and rose within the Catholic hierarchy.

• The neighborhood where Pope Leo XIV grew up faced challenges such as crime and poverty, but has seen some improvements in recent years, with residents hoping for further positive change.

• The story of the decline of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish is reflective of the broader decline in the number of parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago, which has seen a significant drop from the mid-1970s to 2024.