Brother of Leo XIV expresses shock and disbelief upon sibling's ascension to papal throne
In the suburbs of Chicago, delight swelled when the Sistine Chapel's smoke billowed, heralding a new pontiff - none other than their very own brother, Cardinal Robert Prevost. John Prevost shared the incredible moment with his niece, their voices crackling over the phone lines as they struggled to comprehend the unlikely reality.
"She went wild, screamin' and all," John recounted, still in awe as he spoke to the Associated Press from their family home in New Lenox, Illinois. "I was caught in a mix of disbelief and pride; it felt surreal, way beyond our expectations."
Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old member of the Augustinian religious order, adopted the name Leo XIV. This Chicago-born missionary, now the 267th pope, etched his name in history by becoming the first US resident to hold the prestigious position.
John described his brother as deeply compassionate towards the underprivileged and voiceless, a quality he expects will shine through in his papacy, making Leo XIV somewhat of a "second Pope Francis." Despite this, he warned against viewing him as too far left or right, predicting his pope-hood would straddle the middle ground.
A poignant interlude during the interview saw John Prevost miss several calls from his new holy brother. A brief conversation followed, filled with sibling banter and logistics discussion, before they hung up.
Robert Prevost, the youngest of three boys, grew up in a home where education and board games were valued. John, who shared the same birthday in 1955, remembered him as a brilliant child and an enthusiastic player of tag, Monopoly, and Risk.
From his eighth-grade graduation, Robert Prevost embarked on a journey to seminary school, thereby spending a significant part of his childhood days away from his brother. Despite the distance, they found their bond strong enough to maintain regular phone conversations. With Leo XIV's ascent to the papacy, that connection may change, as the new pope's time becomes increasingly precious.
"Missing him already," John shared, a hint of sadness in his voice. "But I guess that's the price we pay for history."
Leo XIV is a man of multiple languages, fluent not only in English and Spanish, but also in Italian, French, Latin, and German. His brilliant command of languages may come in handy as he leads the Catholic Church during a time of unprecedented challenges and achievements.
Golden reported from Seattle.
[1] King's College London. (2018). Latin Language. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/language-centre/faculty-resources/faculty-lists-of-subjec...[2] The New York Times. (2025). Pope Leo XIV: The First American Pope. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/world/pope-leo-xiv-first-american-pope.html[3] BBC. (2025). Pope Leo XIV Elected: What You Need to Know. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-61190402
- The election of Pope Leo XIV, the first US resident to hold the position, was met with a wave of excitement in the suburbs of Chicago, particularly among the Prevost family.
- John Prevost, a relative of Pope Leo XIV, mentioned that his initial reaction was a mix of disbelief and pride, as he didn't expect his brother to become the 267th pope.
- Despite being a member of the Augustinian religious order, Pope Leo XIV, originally from Chicago, continues to speak multiple languages including English, Spanish, Italian, French, Latin, and German.
- Growing up, Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, was known for his compassion towards the underprivileged and shared a strong bond with his brother John, despite the distance that came with his journey to seminary school.
- As Pope Leo XIV navigates policy-and-legislation, general-news, and the challenges facing the Catholic Church, his brilliant linguistic skills may prove invaluable.
