PHOTOS: Pilgrims accompany Archbishop McGovern to Rome

About 25 pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Omaha were blessed to join Archbishop McGovern when he traveled to Rome to receive his pallium from Pope Leo XIV.

Group members prayed at the Pallium Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on June 29, when the pope bestowed the liturgical vestment on the archbishop and 53 other new metropolitan archbishops from around the world.

During their week in Italy, the archdiocese pilgrims visited numerous holy sites, including other glorious basilicas and churches and tombs of popes and saints, including the tomb of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of the Archdiocese of Omaha.

The archdiocese group included priests, staff members and their spouses, and other supporters. Other pilgrims with ties to the archdiocese and Archbishop McGovern were blessed to join them for the pallium Mass, thanks to some help from the Holy Spirit.

The group received 45 tickets to the Pallium Mass, more than was needed. The pilgrims could of handed back the extra tickets, but Archbishop McGovern decided to see what the Holy Spirit would have them do, said Bree Kotulak, director of Stewardship and Development for the archdiocese and one of the pilgrims.

They ended up inviting to the Mass two women from the Diocese of Belleville, which Archbishop McGovern oversaw before his appointment to the Archdiocese of Omaha; a family of 10, plus one on the way, who have roots in O’Neill; two parishioners from St. Frances Cabrini in Omaha; and two students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and their friend.

The father of the large family, Jake Peetz, is from O’Neill but now lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with his family. He’s a coach for the Seattle Seahawks football team.

The St. Frances Cabrini parishioners, Bill and Sharon Kingston, just happened to be in Rome visiting their daughter and her family.

Making the connections and being able to provide the tickets was sweet, Kotulak said. “The Holy Spirit surely guided us in the best way.”

The photos below illustrate other highlights for the pilgrims.

Archbishp Michael McGovern and pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Omaha pose for a photo on the steps outside the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. ZOFIA CZUBAK

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The tomb of Pope Francis at the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major. ZOFIA CZUBAK

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Archbishop Michael McGovern preaches the homily at Mass at the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major. ANDREW KAUFFOLD

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Archbishop Michael McGovern blesses a South African priest. ANDREW KAUFFOLD

Vickie Kauffold, Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic Schools Superintendent, prays at the Basilica of St. Cecilia, where the tomb of the third century martyr is located. ANDREW KAUFFOLD

Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop Michael McGovern and pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Omaha pose for a photo after the Pallium Mass outside Pontifical North American College. COURTESY PHOTO

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Cardinal James M. Harvey (center right), Archbishop Michael McGovern, Father Dan Kampschneider (center left) and Father Tobias Letak (left) pose for a photo at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. COURTESY PHOTO

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Pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Omaha wave to Pope Leo XIV as he rides through St. Peter’s Square at the Wednesday General Audience on June 25, 2025. COURTESY PHOTO

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Pilgrims watch a monitor showing the moment Archbishop Michael McGovern greeted Pope Leo XIV after the Wednesday General Audience on June 25, 2025. COURTESY PHOTO

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Archbishop Michael McGovern celebrates Mass with the pilgrims at Trinita dei Monti. ANDREW KAUFFOLD

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Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, (center) poses for a photo with Archbishops Michael McGovern, Robert Casey (right) and Jeffrey Grob (left) following the Pallium Mass on June 29, 2025. All three of the new archbishops served as priests in the Archdiocese of Chicago under Cardinal Cupich. COURTESY PHOTO