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Pope Leo XIV surprised the Catholic faithful this week in Vatican City by receiving a gift from his home state of Illinois—a box of pizza.
The arrival of this culinary delight was surrounded by unexpected challenges. The saga of delivering pizza to the pontiff unfolded in a tale that underscored determination and faith.
As the Popemobile approached St. Peter’s Square for his weekly audience, he was handed a box from Aurelio’s. A video captured the moment, showing the Popemobile stopping near a sign that proclaimed, “We have Aurelio’s Pizza.” Another sign emphasized, “Pope Leo, I brought you 🍕 from Chicago.”
With a smile on his face, Pope Leo accepted the pizza from one of his bodyguards, offering a thumbs-up to Madeline Daley, a Cincinnati resident who undertook the journey to present it to him.
The Journey Begins
How did this Chicago-style pizza travel all the way from Illinois to Rome? It all began in Ohio with a 24-year-old Catholic content creator named Jayden Remias, who resides in Columbus.
Speaking to a news outlet, Remias referred to the mission as an act of love, stating, “I know what the world wants. It wants truth, beauty, and goodness. How can I give that to the world? I started brainstorming ideas—what’s something impossible that would require God to intervene? Delivering a pizza to the pope.”
However, this wasn’t just any pizza. It needed to come from Aurelio’s flagship location in Homewood, Illinois, renowned for its “Poperoni Pizza,” which Pope Leo reportedly favors.
Facing Adversity
Remias enlisted a childhood friend to help him transport the pizza. However, trouble struck when their van’s battery failed during the drive from Columbus to Chicago. Eventually, they reached Aurelio’s where Remias confirmed his intent to deliver the pizza to the pope.
Initially, he planned to fly to Rome himself. Yet, personal circumstances led him to ask Daley, who was already scheduled to attend the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers, to step in for him.
Preserving the Pizza
Daley took on the critical task of ensuring the pizza remained frozen during transit. She gathered dry ice, placed the pizza in a cooler, and coordinated with the Transportation Security Administration to comply with security requirements.
Everything progressed smoothly until an unexpected incident occurred—the pizza briefly ended up in the trash.
Daley recalled, “The pizza was thrown out by a maid at one of the apartments and ended up in a trash can far from our apartment, double-wrapped in plastic, so it was still safe but discarded.” Concerned, her mother contacted the landlord, pleading for assistance in locating the discarded treasure.
Fortunately, the landlord returned later with the pizza in hand after searching through the trash.
Final Preparations
On the day of delivery, Daley took extra precautions. She added a note inside the pizza box that read, “This pizza is most likely perfectly fine to eat, but I probably wouldn’t eat it myself.”
Eager to secure a prime viewing spot, Daley arrived early at St. Peter’s Square, ready to witness the momentous occasion.
When Pope Leo turned the corner, she noticed his face light up upon seeing the sign featuring Aurelio’s logo.
A Meaningful Gesture
Joe Aurelio, owner of the pizza restaurant, expressed his delight at the sight of the pope accepting the pizza. He stated, “The pope is one of us. He remembers where he came from, and we’ve been blessed by his previous love and visits to Aurelio’s. This acknowledgment in St. Peter’s Square is just another blessing.”
Aurelio also extended his gratitude to Remias and Daley for making this unique delivery happen.
Remias reflected on their adventure, emphasizing the broader message of persistence, stating, “Nothing is impossible if you trust in God. I’m just in awe of what God was able to do and how He made it all happen.”
Celebrating Faith and Community
This remarkable event, combining love for pizza and a commitment to faith, illustrates the power of community and the extraordinary lengths people will go to fulfill a dream. Pope Leo XIV’s acceptance of the pizza symbolizes more than just a food item; it embodies the spirit of connection, hope, and the joy of fulfilling an impossible mission.
The story of this pizza delivery may seem humorous, but it represents the profound impact of faith, creativity, and community efforts. Delivering a pizza to the pope is unlikely to be the last unusual story to emerge from faith and inspiration.
