Robert Prevost, the first American pope, is from Chicago and jokes are already flowing: ‘All communion wafers will be deep-dish’

Here comes ‘Da Pope.’

Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was named Thursday as the first ever American pope – and folks in the Windy City are having a blast over it.

“From now on, all communion wafers shall be deep dish,” one commenter quipped on X.
Chicago sports fans wasted no time jumping on the bandwagon.

“Need to know if he’ll be a Cubs Pope or a White Sox pope,” another X user said, while yet another offered an addition to the beleaguered White Sox stadium fare.

“In honor of Chicago’s own Pope Leo XIV, the White Sox announce the new “White Smoke Shake” that will be served in a commemorative pop hat.”

Robert Prevost, the boy from Chicago who would later become pope, at school in Chicago. via St. Mary of the Assumption School

Prevost was picked to replace Pope Francis after two days of deliberations at the Vatican, with his Second City roots quickly drawing attention. He took the name Pope Leo XIV.

Online comments included shots at the Chicago Bears football team – “Chicago produced a pope before a QB who throws for 4,000 yards” – to the town’s famed beverage, the hometown Swedish schnapps, Malort.

“Considering Leo XIV was born and raised in Chicago, is it possible that he might be the first pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church to have consumed malort?” one social media wiseguy wrote.

Not overlooked by online posters was Chicago’s rep for organized crime and political corruption.

“Congrats to Cardinal Prevost,” one X user said. “Who has the very real chance to be the first elected official from Illinois not to end his term in office by beginning a jail term.”