IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli recently joined a delegation of labor leaders from the Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) for a historic labor pilgrimage to the Vatican, where they met privately with Pope Leo XIV, a Chicagoland native, to discuss the shared purpose of the labor movement and the Catholic Church to uplift working people around the world.
The delegation, composed of Chicago Federation of Labor Executive Board members, Chicago faith leaders, a National AFL-CIO Representative, Illinois’ Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Cardinal Blasé Cupich. The pilgrimage was organized through the CFL and Father Clete Kiley, a priest who serves on the CFL Executive Board and champions strong ties between organized labor and the Catholic Church. The effort was also supported by Cardinal Blase Cupich, a well-known advocate for workers’ rights.
“It was a labor pilgrimage,” said Cicinelli. “The Chicago Federation of Labor, along with other labor affiliates, were invited because of our long-standing ties to the Church, to CFL Chaplain Father Kiley and to Cardinal Cupich, who was instrumental in Pope Leo’s election. Since Pope Leo is pro-labor and advocates to lift up the livelihoods of so many in need, we thought — why not go visit him along with the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, and Italy’s largest confederation of labor (CGIL) and start a dialogue about how we can work together.”
The week-long trip included a private audience with Pope Leo XIV, who offered words of encouragement to those attending representing their respective union.
“The Pope told us to continue doing what we are doing on behalf of people most in need, those needing a voice in the workplace and in their communities,” said Cicinelli. “He said that we are the advocates who help those get to where they need to be — and to continue doing God’s work. Everyone walked out of there spiritually energized and ready to get back into the field to continue on our missions. It was such a powerful message.”
Labor leaders met at the Dicastery for Integral Human Development where there were labor panels to discuss items such as The Future of Work, A Global Perspective on Migration, Intersecting Faith into Organizing, and Ethical Concerns and Impacts on Artificial Intelligence. The labor affiliates met with leaders from CGIL, which represents thirty-three percent (33%) of Italy’s population. The U.S. and Italian labor leaders compared their union’s histories and structures, their issues and challenges, union organizing challenges, the growing of right-wing movements, declining union density, integrating immigrants into the workforce and the impact of new technologies such as artificial intelligence on working families.
“Their struggles are reflective of our struggles,” Cicinelli explained. “They’re fighting against an anti-union right-wing government similar to what we are experiencing here, and they’re facing the same challenges with organizing and maintaining union density. It made each of us aware that even though we are thousands of miles apart, we all share the same struggles — representing our members and uplifting those in need.”
Cicinelli took part in the Artificial Intelligence panel where he focused on the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce. He discussed and stressed the need for careful planning and protections in labor agreements to prevent automation and AI from displacing millions of working people.
“AI is taking off so rapidly that hopefully we’re not going to have an ‘oh no’ moment soon,” said Cicinelli. “It’s already displacing jobs in industries like the airlines, fast food, factories, and retail. There is even a pursuance of AI displacing semi, delivery and rideshare drivers. I worry about my children and future generations. Hopefully we can figure out how to use this technology in a way that benefits everyone from the top down.”
The trip also deepened Cicinelli’s perspective on how faith-based communities can support the labor movement.
“I was made aware how we could involve the Church in our struggles,” he said. “What if, in addition to asking our legislators to intervene in labor disputes, the clergy in our communities also wrote letters to companies urging them to treat workers fairly? That moral voice could make a big difference.”
For Cicinelli, the experience was deeply personal and transformative.
“I’ve always had a drive for doing what I do to help others, but this just over-inflated the enthusiasm and drive,” he said. “It was uplifting in every sense. We left wanting to do more, to organize more, to help more people achieve greater goals.”
The Chicago delegation plans to continue working together, reconvening to develop local projects that carry forward the ideas discussed at the Vatican — and possibly returning for another visit with the Pope in the future.
“We’re already talking about what’s next,” said Cicinelli. “Whether it’s going back to Italy in the immediate future or meeting the Pope again if he visits the U.S., this is just the beginning.”
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