Catholic influencers delivered Pope Leo XIV's favorite Chicago-style pizza from Aurelio's to him during the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers event. The Jubilee event, held July 28-29, gathered over 1,000 attendees from more than 70 countries to highlight the role of Catholic content creators in digital evangelization. Jayden Remias, inspired by a previous pizza delivery to Pope Francis, collaborated with Madeline Daley to transport the pizza to Rome. The pizza, a pepperoni Aurelio's special, faced a near mishap when it was taken by housekeeping but was recovered after prayers. The delivery was a memorable, unplanned moment during the event.
5 months ago
Two Catholic influencers, Jayden Remias and Madeline Daley, successfully delivered Pope Leo XIV's favorite Chicago-style pizza from Aurelio's to the pontiff in Rome 1. This unique event took place during the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers, held on July 28-29, which brought together over 1,000 attendees from more than 70 countries for digital evangelization 1.
Inspired by a viral video of a pizza delivery to Pope Francis in 2015, content creator Jayden Remias conceived the idea to surprise Pope Leo XIV with his preferred Aurelio's "Poperoni" pepperoni pizza 1. Remias secured the pizza and met Madeline Daley, who was traveling to the Jubilee event, to transport the personal-sized pie on dry ice to Rome 1. The journey faced a minor setback when housekeeping temporarily took the pizza from Daley's apartment, but it was recovered after prayer 1. On July 30, Daley arrived at St. Peter’s Square at 5:45 am, holding the pizza and a large sign that read, "We have Aurelio’s pizza" 1. As Pope Leo XIV passed by, he saw the sign, gave a thumbs-up, smiled broadly, and instructed his guards to take the pizza, reportedly lighting up at the sight of the logo 1.
Beyond the lighthearted nature of the delivery, Jayden Remias reflected on its deeper significance, viewing it as an act that communicates God's specific love for each individual 1. He emphasized that by following God's lead, even when the outcome is uncertain, individuals live out His mission to bring love into the world 1. The successful delivery was captured in videos and photos shared by Remias and fellow influencer Maegan Martin, who described it as an "epic delivery" 1.
What is the Church's teaching on evangelization?
The Church teaches that evangelization is the core of its mission, encompassing its entire life and activity . It is the proclamation and handing on of the Gospel, which is identified with Jesus Christ himself . Evangelization is not merely teaching a doctrine, but proclaiming Jesus Christ through words and actions, making oneself an instrument of His presence and action in the world .
Evangelization aims to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to all humanity, transforming it from within . It is the Church's effort to proclaim God's love, His self-giving in Christ Jesus, and His invitation to eternal happiness . The "good news" is meant to stir a person to conversion of heart and life, leading them to cling to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and to receive Baptism and the Eucharist .
Every baptized Christian has the vocation and mission to proclaim the Gospel . This is not limited to a few specialists but is a task for every member of the Church . Pope Francis emphasizes that all the baptized are "agents of evangelization" and "missionary disciples" . What is essential is not advanced training, but rather having truly experienced God's saving love and desiring to lead others to that same joyful discovery . This right to hear the Good News implies a corresponding duty to evangelize, as expressed by Saint Paul: "Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!" (1 Cor 9:16) .
Evangelization involves both human effort in preaching the Gospel and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in those who encounter its saving message . It is a supernatural gift that surpasses human understanding, yet attracts by its own inner logic and beauty . The Holy Spirit strengthens the lay faithful for this work through the sacraments of Christian initiation and His gifts .
Evangelization also involves bringing the Good News into all strata of humanity and impregnating the plurality of cultures with the Gospel . It highlights the "seeds of the Word" hidden in cultures, opening them to Christ and transforming their search for meaning into a quest for transcendence .