You have to consider yourself lucky if your path continually crosses that of man who would become pope.
South Side resident Adarthus Harper instantly remembered a man he knew as Father Bob. The inspector at Ford Motor’s Chicago Assembly Plant is a 1986 graduate of St. Rita Cascia High School, where the future Pope Leo XIV taught him math and physics.
“I remember when he was elected, I’m like, hold on, I know him. It clicked in my mind. I saw him, I thought, that is unbelievable,” Harper said.
Harper played a senior role in the creation of a special Ford Explorer Pope Mobile, full of Chicago touches, that the president of Ford donated to the pontiff.
“Yeah, we are hardworking people here at Chicago Assembly, and he got a world-class vehicle built by some world-class people here at Chicago Assembly Plant,” Harper said.
The honor of delivering a vehicle to a pope is captured in a letter of appreciation, going along with the truck on behalf of all Chicago Assembly staff, according to Harper’s colleague.
“Chicago Assembly has provided a way of life for thousands of families over the years, and we have thousands of families right now, so this kind of stuff this kind of event to do something special for the pope is exciting for everybody here,” said Walter Simkus, final area manager for Chicago Assembly.
Harper wants the pope to know that St. Rita is where he discovered his faith. The all-boys Augustinian school maintains close ties with Pope Leo, who is considered a legend.
“I love my religion, first of all, and without the faith Saint Rita instilled in me, of course, I’ve had some hard times in my life, but today, you know, I am doing very well for myself, and once again, I thank Chicago Assembly Plant and the great people here that I work with,” Harper said.
