By Ray Cardello for May 29, 2026, Season 35 / Post 37

Chicago had its typical holiday weekend, as 13 people were shot during Memorial Day weekend in the Windy City. There was little said about the violence by Mayor Johnson, and instead, he led a group visit of Chicago “leaders” to Rome and a private audience with Pope Leo for Brandon Johnson. The topics discussed during this private session were immigration and reparations. Unless Johnson is prepping for a run for higher office, it would seem that both topics are far above his pay grade.

When I first heard this story, my first thought was why are there 50 people accompanying the Mayor in contrast to the 4 people who made a similar trip to the Vatican with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. There is no viable answer available for that question, but I did get an answer about my second thought, which was who paid for this junket? Here are some details about Johnson’s field trip.

Key Details:

• Who is Mayor Johnson? This refers to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who led a ~50-person delegation (including city officials, business leaders, aldermen, and faith leaders) to meet Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV in late May 2026.
• What WBC covered: Travel expenses for the mayor, City Hall staff (~9 people), security, and logistics like transportation and meals for the official delegation. Private delegates paid for their own airfare and accommodations.
• WBC’s funding sources: Mostly from private sector contributions and membership dues (about 70%), with some city grants (around 25%, supported by taxpayer dollars). WBC described the trip as supporting Chicago’s international profile and economic interests.

If I were a Chicago resident/taxpayer, I would have a problem with funding any portion of a trip for the Mayor and his friends, especially given the topics discussed. If this mayor wants to have a discussion about reparations, it should not be about slavery. It should be about making property owners in Chicago whole for their lost property value caused by the security/safety issues in the city.

Three of the members of Johnson’s entourage were George Floyd’s lawyer, the president of the Chicago Teachers’ Union, and the president of Loyola University. A meeting at City Hall would be sufficient for these folks, and the mayor, instead of international travel to Italy on the taxpayers’ dime. Here is a list of the tour group:

Notable Members (selected highlights):

• City Officials & Staff:
  • Max Budovitch (Deputy Mayor for Business and Neighborhood Development)
  • Melissa Conyears-Ervin (City Treasurer; wife of Ald. Jason Ervin)
  • Angela Tovar (Commissioner of Environment & Chief Sustainability Officer)
  • Jason Lee (Senior Adviser to the Mayor)
  • Aldermen: Jason Ervin (28th Ward), Julia Ramirez (12th Ward), Lamont Robinson (4th Ward)
  • Other staff: Erin Connelly (Communications Director), Billy Evans (Chief of Faith Engagement), etc.
• Business & Economic Leaders:
  • Charles Smith (Vice Chair, World Business Chicago; CEO, CS Insurance Strategies)
  • Kristopher Anderson (Director, United Airlines)
  • Martin Cabrera Jr. (CEO, Cabrera Capital)
  • Guy Chipparoni (Chair, Choose Chicago; President & CEO, Res Publica Group)
  • Nadia Rawlinson (Co-owner & Operating Chairperson, Chicago Sky)
  • Mary Dillon (former CEO, Foot Locker)
  • Others from firms like SodexoMagic, Acclivus, etc.
• Labor, Faith, Education & Community Leaders:
  • Stacy Davis Gates (President, Chicago Teachers Union)
  • Yusef Jackson (President & CEO, Rainbow PUSH Coalition)
  • Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann (Founder, Mishkan Chicago)
  • Rev. Tanya Lozano Washington (Pastor, Lincoln United Methodist Church)
  • University presidents: Dr. Robert Manuel (DePaul), Dr. Mark Reed (Loyola Chicago)
  • Other faith leaders like Bishop Horace E. Smith, Rev. Reginald Sharpe Jr., etc.
  • Antonio Romanucci (civil rights attorney)

It is trips like this that make you question the motives and judgment of politicians, especially progressive and woke politicians. I realize that the Vatican is an independent country, but there is no reason for fifty-some odd people from Chicago to meet with the Pope, even if he is a Cubs fan.

Author’s Note: Graphic created by GROK AI