Overview

• The Chicago Pope Tour kicked off Thursday with a 2½-hour bus excursion departing from Holy Name Cathedral that runs through Oct. 11 and costs $65 per ticket.
• The guided route stops at Holy Name Cathedral, the pope’s Bronzeville birthplace at the former Mercy Hospital site, the Catholic Theological Union seminary in Hyde Park, his childhood parish and his Dolton home at 212 E. 141st Place.
• Tourgoers receive a 20% discount at Aurelio’s Pizza locations and organizers offer private tours on request to accommodate smaller groups.
• The Village of Dolton finalized its $375,000 purchase of Prevost’s childhood home in early July and is pursuing national landmark status alongside security and preservation planning.
• Holy Name Cathedral and other local institutions have reported surges in foot traffic and special programming participation since the pontiff’s May election.