Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson reportedly plans to enlist the pope in his ongoing campaign for reparations in Chicago. During a trip to the Vatican, Mayor Johnson led a delegation that included George Floyd family lawyer Antonio Romanucci. As part of his visit, Johnson presented Pope Leo XIV with Chicago-themed apparel, including a Chicago Cubs hat, and gifted a key to Chicago, a place of personal significance for the pope as it is his birthplace.
Johnson is actively pursuing an initiative known as Repair Chicago, which aims to gather experiences from Black Chicagoans who experienced harm. This effort is designed to support reparations for Black residents. In 2024, he signed an executive order creating a 40-member reparations task force to address historical injustices faced by Black Chicagoans.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Johnson intends to seek Pope Leo’s support for using his influential position to advocate for reparations for descendants of African American slaves. Johnson emphasized the importance of this conversation, stating it is crucial to the effort.
Pope Leo’s apology for the Vatican’s historical involvement in supporting slavery aligns with Johnson’s mission. The mayor expressed gratitude for the pope’s acknowledgment of slavery’s global harm. America stands on the brink of its 250th anniversary, and Johnson highlighted the indispensable role of Black labor in the country’s foundation.
The mayor considers his meeting with the pope a significant step forward, reflecting the ongoing reparations work in Springfield and the City Council. The Repair Chicago initiative will feature bus tours, panel discussions, town halls, and hearings to gather input for the reparations study.
Two years ago, Johnson appointed Carla Kupe as chief equity officer to lead the reparations task force with an initial budget of $500,000. A senior UN official emphasized reparations as vital for dismantling systemic racism.
Johnson’s efforts reflect a broader trend as other states and local municipalities explore reparations. Illinois released a report outlining historical injustices faced by Black residents. Evanston, near Chicago, implemented a reparations program by offering $25,000 cash payments to cover housing expenses for Black residents living between 1919 and 1969.
Fox News Digital’s inquiries to Johnson’s office went unanswered, but reporter Joshua Q. Nelson, who joined Fox News Digital in 2019, continues to cover reparations developments across the U.S. He has extensively reported on cultural trends, public policy, and education, holding a degree in Political Science from Syracuse University and the Wharton Public Policy Certificate from the University of Pennsylvania.
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