CTU President Stacy Davis Gates' travel to meet Chicago-born Pope Leo draws mixed response

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago Teachers Union president has been by the mayor's side from the night he was elected, and the trip to the Vatican is no different.

Some are calling Stacy Davis Gates' trip to meet Pope Leo XIV hypocritical.

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There was a recent Chicago Teachers Union-led protest to save ChiArts School prior to the monthly school board meeting. And during the final days of Springfield's spring session, CTU members continued to fight for more state funding. But, the union's leader was not at Chicago Public Schools nor Springfield Thursday. She was 5,000 miles away, meeting Pope Leo.

"It seems like bad timing, and it seems hypocritical. It was just two weeks ago that Stacey Davis Gates was in front of the Chicago school board saying this is a five-alarm fire and we need water from Springfield. So you guys need to go down to Springfield," Chicago Policy Center Executive Director Austin Berg said.

Davis Gates is part of a delegation that not only includes the mayor and some of his top aides, but over 40 other people. On behalf of her members, Davis Gates gifted the pope a strike pin.

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"I think members are proud of her and proud of the message and lessons that she brings back from the pope for the people of this city, especially for union members," CTU Recording Secretary Vicki Kurzydlo said.

Kurzydlo defended Davis Gates' trip to Vatican City. She argues the pope shares many of the same values as the union.

"Our pope is leading with a moral voice. He's called for investment in people, not war. Our pope has called for, he's called to honor workers over billionaires," Kurzydlo said.

In addition, the CTU says Davis Gates doesn't need to be in Springfield because there are already CTU lobbyists down there Thursday. But union critics say it's not just the timing of the visit to Rome that is hypocritical. Davis Gates is a strong opponent of vouchers for private schools, including Catholic schools.

"Illinois was the only state in the country that has killed a school choice program, and some of that school choice money went to children who were going to Catholic schools," Berg said.

"As a parent, I have a choice in sending my children anywhere I'd like. However, taking money out of public education to fund private decisions is a whole 'nother ball of wax," Kurzydlo said.

The Chicago delegation returns to the city on Saturday. So technically, there is still time for Davis Gates to lobby Springfield for money, since the end of the session is on Sunday.