To mark the six-month anniversary of Pope Leo’s election, Vatican Radio and Vatican News have jointly created a documentary on his American roots. Titled “Leo from Chicago,” the documentary will be released on November 10 at 6 pm Rome Time. The Vatican Dicastery for Communication, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Chicago and a Los Angeles-based Hispanic Apostolate, produced the documentary. The film will be available in English, Italian, and Spanish on Vatican News’ digital channels.
The documentary traces Pope Leo’s family roots, studies, and Augustinian vocation in his native United States. The memories of his brothers, Louis and John, shed light on Robert Prevost’s early childhood in their one-bedroom home in Dolton, Illinois. The film also shows the schools, universities, communities, and parishes that played a vital part in his growing-up years and features the voices of his teachers, classmates, and close friends.
According to Vatican News, the documentary will be distributed internationally through other media outlets. ‘Leo from Chicago’ follows the June release of another Vatican News documentary, ‘León de Perú,’ which focused on the pope’s missionary years in Peru.