By Katherine D. Schmitt

On May 8, 2025 white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel, signaling to the world that a new pope had been elected. On the fourth ballot of the conclave, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV—the 267th successor of St. Peter and the first pope from the United States.

For many years, people had said an American pope was impossible. Yet on that day, impossibility became reality. I was overjoyed by Pope Leo’s election. As an American Catholic, I felt an immediate connection to our new Holy Father and eagerly followed his daily activities through Vatican News, wanting to learn more about this humble and prayerful man.

Just two days later, on May 10, 2025 the Vatican unveiled Pope Leo XIV’s papal crest and motto. The heraldic design reflected traditional symbolism, his devotion to the Blessed Mother and his deep Augustinian roots. The scroll bore the words: “In Illo uno unum,” translating “In the one Christ, we are one.”

When I saw the crest I had an immediate thought: I want to make this crest in needlepoint as a gift for Pope Leo.

The idea came to me instantly and never left.

I contacted a friend who paints needlepoint canvases, and she meticulously created a canvas of the papal crest. I carefully selected silk and wool fibers and began stitching.

With every stitch, I prayed for Pope Leo, for his health, wisdom, and pontificate. What began as an artistic project gradually became a devotional one.

As I stitched, another question quietly arose: How would I ever deliver this gift to the Vatican? Friends encouraged me to take it to Rome myself. 

Over the course of many months, I completed the piece stitch by stitch, prayer by prayer. When it was finished, I selected its framing with great care. The final composition measured 16.5 by 18.5 inches and represented not only many hours of work but also a labor of faith.

Then providence intervened.

Our family received an invitation to a wedding in Puglia, Italy in June 2026, and our daughter had been asked to serve as a bridesmaid. As we planned our trip, I checked the Vatican calendar and noticed that a General Audience was scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.

Could this be the moment?

During the months leading up to our journey, I began seeking advice and spreading a wide net on how one might properly present a gift to the Holy Father. My husband, Dave, and I are members of the Cincinnati Chapter of Legatus, an international organization of Catholic business leaders dedicated to studying, living, and spreading the Catholic faith. I began the letter-writing process with Brian Burch, the United States Ambassador to the Holy See, who is also a fellow Legatus member. Ambassador Burch graciously directed me to the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C., explaining that it would be the best path forward to the Vatican for this request. 

I submitted a formal request to the Nunciature and was advised to seek seating in the reparto speciale—the special section near the Holy Father. Soon after, I was asked to provide letters of recommendation. My pastor, Fr. John Paul Walker, O.P., graciously wrote on my behalf with the official seal of Saint Gertrude Parish. Archbishop Casey likewise provided a letter from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Their kindness and support strengthened my hope.

Eventually I received confirmation that my request for the General Audience had been accepted and that the possibility of presenting the gift to Pope Leo had been submitted for consideration. Yet, there were no guarantees. Final instructions, I was told, might be available when I collected my tickets at the Bronze Door of the Apostolic Palace the day before the audience. 

With uncertainty still before me, I continued to trust in God’s providence. My plan was simple: if I could not present the gift personally, I would leave it in trusted hands at the Vatican for delivery to the Prefecture of the Papal Household. 

I arrived in Rome.

On June 2, 2026 after a four-hour train ride from Puglia, I arrived in Rome carrying the framed needlepoint. My hotel was just outside St. Peter’s Square. That afternoon, I walked to the Bronze Door to collect my ticket. I still did not know whether I would meet Pope Leo.

A staff member examined my paperwork and asked me to step aside. Around me were boxes of envelopes for pilgrims who had submitted ticket requests through the prefecture. After checking the computer and making a phone call upstairs, the attendant finally called my name.

He handed me an envelope. Inside was a bright yellow ticket stamped “3 GIU 2026” and bearing the words: “Incontro con il Santo Padre Leone XIV.” 

“Meeting with the Holy Father Leo XIV.”

I could hardly believe my eyes. I had been granted a meeting with Pope Leo.

A Swiss Guard instructed me to return the next morning at 8 a.m. and proceed to the special section. Filled with gratitude, I spent the remainder of the afternoon in prayer. I attended Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica and went to confession with an English-speaking priest. It seemed fitting that before meeting the Holy Father, I should prepare my soul.

Back at the hotel, I wrapped the framed gift carefully in plastic to protect it from the forecasted rain and reflected on what I might say when the moment came. 

The next morning, thunderstorms hovered over Vatican City as pilgrims entered St. Peter’s Square. Rain fell steadily while we waited beneath umbrellas and ponchos. I held tightly to my bag containing the needlepoint.

At 9:40 a.m., the rain stopped. Pope Leo arrived in the Popemobile, greeting pilgrims from around the world and stopping often to bless babies held high above the crowd. The square erupted in joyful cries of “Papa Leone!”

At 10 a.m., the General Audience began. Pilgrims from many nations were welcomed in numerous languages. To my delight, the English-language greeting specifically acknowledged pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. After Pope Leo’s catechesis and greetings, the audience concluded with his apostolic blessing.

Then came the moment I had imagined for over a year.

One by one, those in the special section were invited forward with gifts and messages.

When my turn came, Pope Leo extended his hand. I introduced myself as Katherine Schmitt from Cincinnati, Ohio and told him that I had also lived in Chicago for several years. I shared how overjoyed I was that he had become the first American pope. Then I presented him with my hand-stitched needlepoint of his papal crest.

He thanked me warmly and told me how beautiful it was. In that brief moment, months of prayer, work, and hope came together in a grace-filled encounter I will never forget.

As I departed, an attendant handed me a rosary blessed by Pope Leo, bearing his papal crest on the center medal and the Blessed Mother on the reverse side. The cross is a replica of the papal ferula.

I met the Holy Father at approximately 11:30 a.m. that morning. For more than a year, I had watched him greet pilgrims from every corner of the world—clergy, families, newlyweds, delegations, and individuals carrying gifts ranging from books and statues to sports jerseys and even pickleball racquets. 

No matter who approached him, he greeted each person with warmth, patience, and genuine attention. He smiled often. He listened intently. He made every person feel seen.

As I sat in St. Peter’s Square watching him continue greeting pilgrims until nearly 1 p.m., I reflected on the many blessings that had led to this day. So many people encouraged me. So many had opened doors. Many told me they believed I would meet the pope. And from the very beginning, deep in my heart, I believed it too. I had imagined this moment countless times: sitting near the stage, standing before the Holy Father, and placing this gift into his hands.

By God’s grace, that vision became reality. The brass plaque on the back of the needlepoint reads: 

Presented to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in honor of his election
as the first American Successor of Saint Peter and
267th Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church.

“In the one Christ, we are one.”

Presented by Katherine Dorger Schmitt
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
June 3, 2026.

This journey began with a simple inspiration upon seeing a papal crest. It became a labor of prayer and deepening of my Catholic faith. Ultimately, it became a reminder that when gifts are offered with faith, love, and perseverance, God often opens doors we never imagined possible.