Sun City residents Dick Bosold and Claudia Millington recently joined a delegation of 25 travelers for a 10-night pilgrimage through Rome, Assisi, and Florence. Led by Father Julius of St. Mary’s in Huntley, the group’s itinerary featured a momentous highlight: a Papal audience with the first American-born pontiff, Pope Leo XIV.
Elected in May 2025, Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, holds a special place in the hearts of the Midwest travelers. Born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood on September 14, 1955, the Holy Father’s roots are firmly planted in Illinois. He grew up in the south suburb of Dolton and attended school at St. Mary of the Assumption on the far south side, making this international pilgrimage feel like a visit with a local hero.
On their pilgrimage to Italy through St. Mary’s Church in Huntley, Sun City residents Dick Bosold and Claudia Millington (not pictured) gained an audience with Pope Leo XIV. (Photo provided)
After arriving at 5 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square to secure a front-row vantage point, Millington described the moment the Pope finally appeared.
“The excitement was incredible as he drove past in the Popemobile,” Millington recalled. “Having seats right at the front of the square put us directly in his path; he was right there in front of us.”
While the group spent their first few days touring Rome’s other historic landmarks, the papal encounter remained the trip’s undisputed highlight. Bosold noted that the Pope even seemed to recognize their group’s origins.
“It was unbelievable to be that close, and he actually acknowledged that we were from the Chicago area. We were all waving and just thrilled. It’s a moment we’ll cherish forever.”
The trip included many incredible sites. It featured a visit to Fattoria San Donato, a lovely, family-run organic winery just outside the medieval town of San Gimignano. Once a village along the historic Via Francigena pilgrim route, the estate is centered on an 11th-century Romanesque church and features original architecture, including a watchtower and a fortified villa.
“It was so beautiful,” Bosold said. “Small, not like Napa Valley.”
Bosold also had the unique opportunity to serve during the journey. “We attended mass at the Basilica, where I got to do a reading,” he shared. “It’s a part of the pilgrimage experience; it gave me another treasured memory.”
Millington added, “I thought one of the interesting parts of the pilgrimage was visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It doesn’t lean that much,”
Bosold said, “We visited Scala Sancta, or Holy Stairs.” These 28 marble steps are the same ones Jesus ascended to face Pontius Pilate. Today, they lead to the Sancta Sanctorum, a chapel once used as the private place of refuge for early popes. The site is defined by a rigorous tradition of penance.
Millington said, “To go up these stairs, you are supposed to do it on your knees.” This physical act serves as a meditation on the Passion of Christ.
Participants of the pilgrimage visited the 14th-century Duomo di Orvieto. (Photo provided)
While most visitors find a single ascent grueling enough, Bosold famously climbed the stairs six times. For those unable to complete the trek on their knees, parallel staircases allow a standard walk.
Millington said, “There was so much to see, beautiful cathedrals, historic sites, and one of my favorites, Rome’s National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art.”
Bosold said, “I enjoyed visiting Trevi Fountain in the heart of Rome. The fountain features the god Oceanus riding a shell-shaped chariot pulled by sea horses.”
The tradition is to toss a coin over one’s shoulder to ensure a future return to the Eternal City. The gesture totals over a million euros annually, which are donated to charitable causes like Caritas to support those in need.
The group returned with photos of their group and stories to share, along with the bragging rights of a close encounter with the pope. Millington noted that the group’s chemistry was a highlight of the experience.
“The trip was made even more enjoyable by the people on it,” she said. “We were such a cohesive group.”
