Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost before he was elected the first American pope earlier this year, received the gift as he rode through Saint Peter’s Square in Rome on Wednesday, July 30. His brother, John Prevost, told Chicago TV station WGN that the pontiff “devoured” the personal pepperoni pie.

A group of young Catholic influencers teamed up to get Pope Leo XIV his favorite dish — Aurelio’s pepperoni pizza — shipped from his hometown of Chicago.

Some Chicagoans made a special delivery to the first American pope: Aurelio's pizza. Pope Leo XIV, who grew up on Chicago's South Side and south suburbs, was greeting a sea of faithful in St. Peter's Square Wednesday morning for a jubilee youth event when he saw a sign in the crowd. It said, "We have Aurelio's pizza!"