Illinois Governor Presents 'Da Pope' Beer to Pope Leo XIV in Vatican, Invites Him to Chicago

When J.B. Pritzker walked into the Vatican’s private audience hall on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, he didn’t bring a diplomatic memo or a policy brief. He brought beer. Specifically, a six-pack of "Da Pope"—a craft brew from Chicago’s own Brewery 312—alongside Illinois art, a stack of local books, and a heartfelt invitation: come home.

A Son of Illinois Returns to the Throne

Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, is no stranger to Chicago. Before ascending to the papacy, he was Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop who shepherded the Archdiocese of Chicago for over a decade. His roots run deep in the city’s South Side, where he once walked parish halls, heard confessions in Polish and Spanish, and ate Italian beef sandwiches after Sunday Mass. Now, as Pope, he’s returned—not as a bishop, but as the spiritual leader of 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. And Illinois, his home state, didn’t miss the chance to welcome him back.

The 40-minute meeting, confirmed by NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern, was intimate. No diplomats. No press pool. Just Pritzker, First Lady MK Pritzker, Chief of Staff Anne Caprara, and the Pope. "You could feel his humanity," Pritzker told reporters afterward. "It wasn’t political. It was personal."

Beer, Books, and a Blessing for Troopers

The gift of "Da Pope" beer—named in jest by local brewers after Cupich’s decades-long tenure in Chicago—wasn’t just a gag. It was a symbol. A nod to the fact that even popes have hometowns. The label features a stylized image of the Pope’s old cardinal’s ring, crossed with a Chicago skyline. The USCCB even acknowledged the gesture in a tongue-in-cheek resource titled "Governor brings 'Da Pope' to the pope." But it wasn’t all lager. Pritzker also presented hand-carved woodwork from a Chicago artisan, a first edition of Gwendolyn Brooks’ poetry, and a framed photo of the 1996 Chicago Bulls championship parade—"because," as he put it, "he knows what joy looks like in this city." And then came the unexpected: the Pope blessed the badges of the Illinois State Police troopers who accompanied Pritzker’s security detail. "He looked at them, smiled, and said, ‘You keep him safe.’ Then he turned to the van driver and said, ‘Come on in and join us.’" The driver, a retired Chicago cop, reportedly cried.

Immigration: A Moral Issue, Not a Political One

The conversation turned serious when Pritzker brought up the Trump Administration’s renewed immigration enforcement operations in Chicago. "I began by expressing my gratitude," he said, "for his moral leadership on this issue." The Pope, according to Pritzker, listened intently. He asked about ICE raids in neighborhoods like Little Village and Albany Park. He wanted to know how many families were being separated. He asked if local churches were still offering sanctuary. When Pritzker said enforcement activity had slowed in recent weeks, the Pope paused. Then, softly: "We’ll put that in the fridge." It was an odd phrase—until you remember the Pope’s Chicago roots. "That’s what my mom used to say when she had leftovers," Pritzker later explained. "She’d put the food in the fridge for later. He was saying: this isn’t over. We’re storing hope."

"Come Home, Your Holiness"

The invitation for a papal visit to Chicago was met with visible warmth. "He didn’t say yes," Pritzker admitted. "But he didn’t say no. He smiled. He said, ‘I’d like that.’" Officials in the Archdiocese of Chicago say the logistics are already being discussed. A potential visit could coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Archdiocese’s youth outreach program in 2026. "The excitement here is electric," said Father Michael O’Connor, pastor of St. Michael’s in Bridgeport. "We’ve got 400,000 Catholics in this neighborhood alone. If he comes, we’ll fill the park." The gesture isn’t lost on Illinois’ Catholic population—nearly 3 million strong. "He’s not just a pope," said Maria Lopez, a 72-year-old parishioner from Cicero. "He’s our neighbor. He remembers the smell of the bakery on 79th Street. He knows what it means to lose a job and still go to Mass."

A Pattern of Homecoming

Pritzker’s visit isn’t an isolated event. Last month, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias presented the Pope with a White Sox-themed state license plate. In August, Chicago Alderman Bill Conway made a pilgrimage to Rome, bringing a handmade crucifix carved from a fallen oak in Lincoln Park. Each gift, like Pritzker’s beer, carries a whisper: we haven’t forgotten you. Even the Vatican’s official bulletin noted the "unusual warmth" of the meeting, describing the Pope as "visibly moved by the tangible expressions of home."

What’s Next?

The Illinois Governor’s Office has already begun drafting a formal invitation letter, to be delivered by the state’s ambassador to the Holy See. Sources say the Vatican is considering a spring 2026 visit, possibly timed with the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19—a day deeply celebrated in Chicago’s Italian-American communities. A papal Mass at Soldier Field could draw over 80,000 people, surpassing even the 2015 visit of Pope Francis.

Why This Matters

This isn’t just a feel-good story. It’s a quiet rebuke to the federal government’s hardline immigration stance. In a time when state and federal authorities clash over sanctuary policies, the Pope’s quiet endorsement of Illinois’ approach—through presence, not proclamation—carries moral weight. For Illinoisans, it’s validation. For the immigrant families living in fear, it’s a lifeline.