Children in Chicago holding a gathering or meeting at their school.
In the heart of Vatican City, cardinals were prepping for the conclave to crown the new Pope, while students at a school in downtown Chicago were staging their own papal election. The grand spectacle unfolded at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, where pupils dressed as cardinals, Swiss Guards, and turned a classroom into the iconic Sistine Chapel.
One enterprising student took on the role of a journalist, interviewing each papal candidate, saying, "The options are pretty solid." The event wasn't just about donning the papal robes; these students were determined to think and vote like real cardinals. They ran campaigns, favors emerged, and several rounds of voting took place. One student exclaimed, "We're almost ready to elect a new Pope. Everyone's buzzing with excitement!"
After some nail-biting suspense, a new Pope was chosen, none other than Cardinal Augustus Wilk, aka Augie Wilk from the fourth grade, who picked the papal name 'Pope Augustine' after garnering two-thirds of the votes. The young Augie reflected on the experience, "I learned it's important to keep it light, but also stay humble."
Smoke billowed from the metamorphosed 'Sistine Chapel' to announce the decision to the rest of the school. The newly-elected Pope Augustine made his grand entrance at the window and waved to a sea of cheering children, much like Pope Leo XIV did from St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
It's worth mentioning that this playful exercise at a Chicago school took place before the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born Pope.
Want to learn more about the cardinal always grinning beside Leo XIV? Check out this interesting read!
- Fun Fact: Mock conclaves, like the one in Chicago, are common educational activities in Catholic schools. They offer students an interactive way to learn about the Church's leadership, history, and governance. Coinciding such simulations with actual papal elections, like the one of Pope Leo XIV, can increase students' interest in current events and the Pope's global impact. These events also boost unity and shared learning experiences among students.
What happened in the Chicago school was not just a playful imitation of a papal election, but also an educational opportunity for students to learn about the Church's leadership, history, and governance. While the cardinals in Vatican City were electing the new Pope, a student in downtown Chicago was conducting interviews with the papal candidates, echoing the role of a journalist. The students were so engaged that they ran campaigns, favors emerged, and several rounds of voting took place, culminating in the election of none other than Cardinal Augustus Wilk, aka Augie Wilk from the fourth grade. Interestingly, this mock conclave occurred before the election of the first U.S.-born Pope, Pope Leo XIV. These educational activities not only boost unity and shared learning experiences among students, but also increase their interest in current events and the Pope's global impact.
