A Childhood Dream: Pope Leo XIV's Desire to Be clergy
Young Pontiff Leo XIV harbored aspirations of priesthood since his childhood days. - Childhood Aspiration of Pope Leo XIV: Priestly Vocation
Hailing from the windy city of Dolton, Illinois, our new Pope Leo XIV nurtured a dream from childhood - to don the priestly robes. His older brother, John Prevost, recalled fond memories of Robert Francis Prevost, their younger sibling, "playing priest," as they growing up, according to interviews with US broadcasters CBS and ABC.
Instead of frolicking with dolls or mimicking soldier antics, their future pontiff preferred transforming their mother's ironing board into an impromptu altar, complete with elaborate make-believe mass ceremonies. Much like a seasoned clergyman, the young boy already knew his prayers in not one, but two languages - Latin and English.
Predicting the Path to Power
Looking back, John Prevost shares a story from their elementary school days. A woman residing on their same block had forecasted Robert Prevost to become the very first American pope. While the child was taken aback and found it hard to believe, the pride swelling in his heart overshadowed any doubts.
The news of his brother's election to the papacy filled John Prevost with a sense of great responsibility. He is scheduled to travel to Rome this Friday to take part in Vatican festivities.
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- John Prevost
- Robert Prevost
- Priest
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Insights:
- Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, was predicted to become the first American pope by a neighbor when he was in the first grade. This prophecy came true on May 8, 2025, making him the 267th pontiff and the first American pope in history [1][3].
- Despite initial skepticism regarding an American pope due to political reasons and the global influence of the United States, Cardinal Prevost's popularity as a front-runner grew in the days leading up to the conclave [1][3]. The election on May 8 fulfilled the neighbor’s long-ago prediction.
I'm not going to be a doctor like John Prevost initially thought, for Robert Prevost, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, had nurtured a dream from childhood to don priestly robes. John Prevost recalled that their younger sibling, known for playing priest, was foretold by a neighbor to become the very first American pope when he was in the first grade. Despite the initial skepticism, this prophecy came true on May 8, 2025, by the US broadcasters CBS and ABC.
