Chicago Chain Pays Homage to Pope Leo XIV with New Sandwich

Ever since Chicago native Robert Francis Prevost was named Pope XIV by the Vatican last week, the Windy City has been exploding with excitement. As someone with roots outside of Chicago (I never claim to be from the city), we love any/everything with a local connection. Chicago can celebrate its own like no other city on the planet, and that's exactly what we've been doing all weekend long.

The memes, tweets, jokes, and more have been en masse. The New York Times even had a great story, parroting the suggestions of those online saying that deep-dish pizza and the toxic swill known as Malört will now be staples in the Vatican. Expect to see Chicagoans rocking shirts representing Pope Leo XIV. You can already find one popular Chicago chain getting in the spirit by honoring the Pope with a new signature sandwich.

Introducing "The Leo:"

The inimitable Portillo's has unveiled a new sandwich to honor Pope Leo XIV. The sandwich, dubbed "The Leo," is all about Portillo's signature Italian beef. Billed as "The holy trinity of peppers," The Leo is piled high with a choice of sweet peppers, hot giardiniera, or both.

I love peppers both sweet and hot. There really is nothing like hot giardiniera, on Italian beef or pizza. It's the perfect explosion of flavor, and the texture is divine in itself, part of the reason I believe Portillo's has called this sandwich " a divinely seasoned Italian beef."

You Better Act Fast to Get Your Hands on "The Leo:"

The Leo will only be available at Portillo's in the month of May, which happens to be "Italian Beef Month," so those who want to get their hands on it need to act quickly.

Prevost, who is now known globally as Pope Leo XIV, was born and raised in Dolton, a neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. He was elected last week following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday. Pope Francis was 88-years-old.

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Since Pope Leo XIV was elected, Chicagoans have been referred to him as "Da Pope." Me? I'll be calling him "Pope Bob from the South Side." God himself knows at one point in time, Prevost was just "little Bobby from the South Side of Chicago." Maybe he's heard of Bad, Bad Leroy Brown?

Portillo's has been in the news heavily this spring, particularly after introducing their new breakfast menu. You can check out Portillo's full breakfast menu, available at select locations for the time being, here.