Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is preparing for a private audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican this Thursday, an encounter that reflects the deep and evolving role of faith in his personal and political life. As a lifelong Pentecostal Christian, Johnson has been open about how spiritual experiences have shaped his worldview and leadership approach.

Johnson’s spiritual journey was profoundly influenced by his late mother, Pastor Wilma Jean Johnson, who passed away in June 1995 while battling congestive heart failure. In one of his last conversations with her, she urged him to take care of himself, telling him she foresaw him having significant influence over thousands of people. Although she did not specify how, Johnson interprets her words as a prophetic call to a purposeful life of service, distinct from his family’s expectations that he would take over his father’s church ministry.

His father, the Rev. Andrew Johnson, is an ordained minister with the Church of God in Christ, the nation’s largest Pentecostal denomination. Growing up in a large, devout family that often faced financial challenges, Johnson’s early life was shaped by a strong religious foundation and a sense of communal responsibility. Despite initially stepping away from the family ministry, Johnson later embraced his own path of public service, pursuing a calling he described as ministry through education and advocacy.

Johnson’s Pentecostal faith centers on the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit, which Pentecostals believe guides and empowers believers in their daily lives. He recalls his first encounter with the Holy Spirit as a child during altar time in church, a moment when he felt protected, safe, and affirmed in his commitment to serving others. Throughout his life, including in moments of personal challenge such as the births of his children and his mother’s passing, Johnson has sensed a spiritual presence that offers comfort and guidance.

Speaking at a send-off event in Bronzeville on Pentecost Sunday, Johnson emphasized the importance of both faith and action, stating that “prayer without works is dead,” as he led a delegation of Chicago’s civic, business, education, and faith leaders to the Vatican. The timing is notable, as Pope Leo XIV recently celebrated Pentecost—commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus’ followers—underscoring a thematic connection between their meeting.

Johnson describes his faith as “evolving,” shaped not only by spiritual growth but also by his roles as husband and father. He seeks to model the biblical principles of love and service in both family life and public office. Reflecting on his recent commencement address at Kenwood Academy High School, where his eldest son graduated, Johnson highlighted the importance of teaching his children about God’s unconditional love and the value of trust and grace within family relationships.

As Johnson embarks on his Vatican visit, his spiritual foundation remains a central influence, informing his leadership in one of the nation’s largest cities and his engagement with global faith leaders.