Watch Pope Leo XIV receive box of Chicago pizza in Vatican City
Video footage shows a member of the crowd giving the pontiff, 69, a box from Aurelio's Pizza in Chicago's south suburbs as he arrived in St. Peter's Square in his open-air popemobile for his weekly audience.
The gesture appeared to have delighted the pope, who gave a thumbs-up gesture upon receiving the box. According to 6 ABC, the Chicago native was known to frequent the original Homewood location of the restaurant when he was simply known as Father Bob.
Although the toppings were not revealed, Joe Aurelio, owner of the pizzeria, announced the new "Poperoni Pizza" in early July, which features traditional pepperoni pizza topped with a layer of cup and crisp pepperoni.
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Pizza was from Aurelio's Pizza
The pizza delivered to the pope, known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost outside of his papal position, appears to be from Illinois-based Aurelio's Pizza, which was quick to take credit. The pizza joint, which has locations in Illinois, Minnesota, California and Florida, in a post on Facebook, said it was "another blessing to have Pope Leo acknowledge our pizza at St. Peter's Square."
Aurelio's also invited the pope to visit them the "next time he is back home" and requested followers to connect them to the person who delivered the pizza about 4,800 miles away so the shop "can personally thank them."
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
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