Members of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership attend the weekly General Audience, bringing to Pope Leo
By Salvatore Cernuzio
“I told him that every time I visit Broadview, I encounter Jesus and his Passion… Forgive me, but I am very emotional right now.”
Abigail Ortiz Valles could not hide her emotion as she briefly recounted her meeting with Pope Leo XIV on October 28 in St. Peter’s Square.
A Mexican migrant and Scalabrinian layperson, she had traveled from Chicago to Rome to attend the General Audience alongside about 30 other members of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), including priests, deacons, students, and Catholic leaders.
In the service of justice
In the pope’s hometown, the movement aims to be a “force” in the service of justice. In practice, this means providing daily support and assistance to hundreds of Central and South American migrants living in suburban Chicago amid deep uncertainty and vulnerability, offering them prayer, pastoral care, and companionship.
However, working with detainees at Broadview, a facility run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is central to the Coalition’s mission.
The agency, which is part of the US Department of Homeland Security, has been at the center of controversy and accusations over its methods.
Defending the rights of “mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and workers in our communities torn from their families and their lives” is the main objective of the CSPL.
After initial hurdles and delays in gaining access, the Coalition received temporary permission to enter the federal facility, located 15 miles from downtown Chicago, each day. Since May 2026, she has made more than 135 visits to 725 detained immigrants.
Album of photographs and letters for the Pope
Wearing yellow T-shirts bearing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and carrying a banner reading “The Church…needs your holy rebellion,” the group arrived at St. Peter’s Square early in the morning.
They waited for the greetings at the end of the audience to shake Pope Leo’s hand and offer him a gift: photographs of the CSPL’s initiatives and celebrations, as well as letters from migrants addressed directly to the Pope.
The letters share “their life experiences and how, despite countless difficulties, they continue through the hope of a better future, the help of Our Lord, and the work of movements like this, which also enjoy the support of our Metropolitan Archbishop, Cardinal Blase Cupich.”
This is what Mgr José María García Maldonado, auxiliary bishop of Chicago, explained to Vatican News, on the sidelines of the General Audience.
He described the Coalition as “a force within the Church serving good and justice, working above all to defend the rights of migrants who find themselves in very difficult situations.”
‘Thank you for your advice’
According to those present, the Pope seemed moved by the gifts. He greeted everyone and joined the group for a photo.
Tiffany Swann-Covington of Our Lady of Africa Parish and Loyola University Chicago spoke to thank the pope “for your statements emphasizing the importance of pastoral care for our brothers and sisters detained at Broadview.”
“You have inspired us and countless bishops to continue this work across the country,” she said. “Please continue to pray for us and encourage us with your words and advice. »
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