Our Lady of Mt. Carmel students heading to Rome to perform for Pope Leo XIV

CHICAGO (WGN) — From Lakeview to St. Peter’s Basilica, a trip of a lifetime awaits students at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

The Chicago Catholic grade schoolers will soon have an audience with Pope Leo XIV, who was born and raised in the Chicago area. Practicing to sing in Latin to the first American pope, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel students will head to Rome next week to perform before Pope Leo and visit the Sistine Chapel.

Despite the nerves, student Tim Derov says excitement remains.

“I feel like it’s going to be a very fun trip, and I think we are going to see lots of beautiful things,” Derov said.

Chicago Cardinal Blaise Cupich will also make the trip, as he celebrates 50 years as a priest, also known as a 50th jubilee. Families are financing the trip independently, with donations from others in the parish as well as from parishes across the Midwest. 

Teacher Allison Foerster will also be attending, as she told WGN-TV on Wednesday that the experience is sure to be one that both students and staff will never forget.

“We are so excited and really blown away,” she said. “Educating the whole child in a way that acknowledges their whole experience as a human, including their faith, and so, to be able to then take these kids to Rome with their families…even if we don’t get to meet [Pope Leo], we know we get to lay eyes on our Heavenly Father. Regardless, as a Catholic, that’s a huge deal.”

Student Ines Martins revealed that she is ecstatic to make the trip.

“It makes me feel really happy,” she says, “because I’ve never been there before and I really want to see what their country is like.”