Macomb Mayor Mike Inman joined mayors from across Illinois in a private audience with Pope Leo XIV, who hails from the south side of Chicago, during a special Holy Week gathering leading up to Easter. During the event, Pope Leo highlighted the responsibility of civic leaders to serve the common good, uphold human dignity and care for the most vulnerable.
The pope addressed a delegation from the Illinois Municipal League, during a meeting March 30. Inman's daughter, Madeline, who lives in Europe, joined him during the event. Welcoming the delegation, the Pope stressed that authority must be understood as service. Referring to the example of Christ, who came “not to be served but to serve,” he described this model as both “a beacon and a challenge” for those in governance.
'As men and women charged with the role of governance, you too are called to discover and exemplify the gift of service. Leaders are called to be attentive to the needs of the weakest and the most vulnerable in order to assist them towards an integral human development,' he told community leaders. 'Mayors are called to reduce and alleviate suffering and difficulties among their citizens in every way possible, with all of the measures that love suggests and the law provides. You must first strive to know people’s aspirations as well as their challenges. Continue listening to the poor, to immigrants and all of the least among you, and accompany them in promoting the common good.'
Inman told The Community News Brief that the experience was a bit “overwhelming.”
“As a lifelong Catholic Christian, this was a very emotional opportunity for me. Meeting the leader of 1.4 billion Catholic Christians and representing my hometown was really incredible,” Inman noted.
Inman was among 35 Illinois mayors who had the opportunity to travel to Rome via the Illinois Municipal League (IML) to meet the first American-born pope. Inman is a member of the IML board, and has previously served as the organization’s president.
“The pope’s remarks were inspiring and reminded us of our call to service as mayors and a reminder to not leave marginalized members of our community behind,” he added. “And when meeting Pope Leo face-to-face, alongside my daughter, was a very proud moment. I also had the opportunity to mention Macomb and Western Illinois University, and when asked, the pope shared he had friends who had attended WIU.”
In addition to meeting with Pope Leo, the municipal leaders met with Brian Burch, originally from Chicago, who is the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. Not only was this a chance for Inman and other mayors to meet with the leader of the Catholic Church, it provided those traveling together an opportunity to network and discuss current challenges, issues and successes.
“This was a long plane ride there and back, and we had the chance to talk about our current issues, like a community’s ambulance service, health care, retail development and much more,” Inman shared.
Inman also shared that this trip was not on the taxpayer’s dime. His travel to Rome, along with his daughter’s travel, and their lodging was paid for with his personal funds. The City of Macomb reimbursed him for his mileage to and from O’Hare, which is standard procedure for any Illinois Municipal League meeting he attends, he added.
