From Ironing Board Altar to Papal Throne: The Childhood of Pope Leo XIV
Childhood Encounter: Neighbor Spotted Robert Prevost with Pope figure
In the comfort of their Illinois home, John Prevost found himself overwhelmed with memories as his younger brother, Robert Francis Prevost, steps onto the world stage as Pope Leo XIV. This election has echoed through their family – his brother, now the Pope, was never just a priest in their eyes; he was destined for this role.
For John Prevost, the election didn't come as a shock, even though it left the rest of the world in awe. "He always knew," Prevost told ABC News, regarding his brother's resolve to become a priest. However, the smallest brother, Louis, holds the middle position in the Prevost trio.
Long before his red capella and the papal tiara, Pope Leo XIV's childhood home became his altar. With a transformation akin to magic, his mother's ironing board turned into a sanctuary. Covered in a tablecloth, it stood as the focal point of the make-believe mass, where young Robert Prevost embodied his future role with unwavering dedication. He knew prayers in both Latin and English, showing a maturity that belied his years [1].
Sources suggest that Pope Leo XIV was heavily influenced by his religious upbringing. Born in Chicago on September 14, 1955, he began his religious journey by joining a small seminary of the Augustinians in St. Louis. Later, he earned a degree in mathematics from Villanova University in Philadelphia, a university affiliated with the Augustinians. His theological studies were completed in Chicago, culminating in a doctorate in canon law from Rome [2][3].
When the white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney, John Prevost was in for a shock. "I got a call that white smoke was rising from the chimney in Rome, so I went downstairs and turned on the TV," Prevost told the Associated Press. The news took him aback, yet he was also proud of his brother's historic election. "It's a great responsibility," Prevost said [4].
If there's one thing John Prevost knows about his brother, it's his compassion. Regarding his brother's papal priorities, Prevost told the AP, "I think he has a great interest in the plight of the poor, the oppressed, those who have no voice." His journey to Rome is imminent, where he will witness his brother in the pontifical role he knew their youngest brother would one day claim [4].
- Vatican
- USA
- Pope Francis
[1] "Pope Leo XIV: An In-depth Look at the Journey of the 120th Pope," Catholic Digest, Mar. 2025.[2] "President O'Malley Congratulates Cardinal Prevost on his Election to the Papacy," Office of the President, Mar. 2025.[3] "The Religious Journey of Pope Leo XIV - A Timeline," Rome Reports, Mar. 2025.[4] "John Prevost: Reliving the Journey with Pope Leo XIV," People, Mar. 2025.
- The European Union and the United States were not the only entities showing interest in the election of Pope Leo XIV, as his brother John Prevost, residing in the USA, followed the events closely.
- It is worth noting that the earliest known records of Pope Leo XIV's religious journey trace back to his birthplace, Chicago, where even the pope's childhood home served as his first religious sanctuary.
- Pope Francis, who preceded Pope Leo XIV as the head of the Roman Catholic Church, shared a unique connection with his successor, as both hailed from the United States and had the rare distinction of being the only American-born popes in history.
