Catholic students from Chicago got a rare opportunity Wednesday to meet Pope Leo XIV in Rome, months after they held a mock conclave at their school.

NBC 5 Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern was the only Chicago reporter sitting with the students during the special occasion.

Pope Leo welcomed the students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy to the Vatican today. They came decked out in the costumes they made back in May when they held a school conclave.

During their mock conclave, the students elected a pope with an uncanny tie to Pope Leo.

“He was from America, first American pope. And he was from the Augustinian order, and my name’s Augie,” said student Augie Wilk.

The pope’s general audience typically draws thousands, but the Chicago students had a fantastic view just steps away. Later, Ca

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