Twenty thousand tickets sold, five dollars apiece. On Saturday, June 14, Chicago’s Guaranteed Rate Field will host a live-streamed message from Pope Leo XIV, marking the first time a sitting pontiff speaks virtually to a packed American baseball stadium.
The Vatican formally announced the event on June 2. Gates open at 12:30 p.m., with programming set to begin at 2:30 p.m. and culminate in a 4 p.m. Mass celebrated by Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago.
But what elevates the moment beyond a rare papal appearance is what’s unfolding simultaneously, 700 miles east in Washington: a massive military parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. And the date isn’t incidental—June 14 also marks President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
In Chicago, the Pope’s address—also available via global livestream—is expected to focus on the dignity of migrants, a theme central to Leo XIV’s early papacy. An American-born former missionary in Peru, the pontiff highlighted his personal ties to immigration in one of his first speeches to the Vatican diplomatic corps:
“My personal story is that of a citizen, descended from immigrants, who himself chose to emigrate. And for me, citizens and foreigners deserve the same dignity and the same protection.”
That message stands in sharp contrast to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The president has repeatedly vowed to deport millions of undocumented migrants.
“He’s not happy with what’s going on. And he won’t just sit by and watch,” said the Pope’s brother, John Prevost, in an interview with The New York Times.
Meanwhile in the capital, the military is preparing for what organizers claim will be the most elaborate parade in recent memory. Stretching six blocks along Constitution Avenue, from 23rd Street to just shy of the White House, the procession will feature 28 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Stryker armored vehicles, 50 helicopters, over 100 additional military vehicles, six infantry battalions totaling 6,700 troops, horses, mules, and a single military working dog.
The parade is the capstone of a full day of festivities. At 11 a.m., the Army Birthday Festival will kick off with combat demonstrations, children’s games, concerts, and meet-and-greets with soldiers, NFL players, celebrities, and influencers.
At 9:30 a.m., the public can participate in a fitness competition. Throughout the day, the main stage will host performances from artists including country singers Scotty Hasting—a former infantryman wounded in Afghanistan—Noah Hicks, and DJ Nyla Symone.
At sunset, troops will march past Trump’s reviewing stand, the Army’s Golden Knights will parachute in, and fireworks will close the day. Ronald Reagan National Airport will suspend operations for several hours, grounding over 100 flights and stranding thousands of passengers.
The White House insists the celebration is strictly tied to the Army’s founding. But according to multiple U.S. media outlets, planning efforts ramped up recently to ensure the festivities aligned with June 14, Donald Trump’s birthday. Neither the Navy nor the Marine Corps—both also celebrating 250th anniversaries this year—have announced similar commemorations.
“It’s perfectly choreographed,” said MSNBC journalist John Heilemann. “A media spectacle of self-celebration—just like the Pope’s virtual appearances. The contrast is stark: one exalts power, the other preaches mercy.”
Jonathan Lemire put it more bluntly: “This is textbook counterprogramming. And both sides know it.”
