Heavenly pursuits: Pope’s brother says Leo XIV always wanted to be a priest
John Prevost, brother of Pope Leo XIV, has spoken publicly about the new pontiff’s childhood ambition to be a priest - but also revealed that Leo never believed they’d elect an American Pope.
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Pope Leo XIV’s brother has spoken about how, from a young age, the man once known as Cardinal Robert Prevost had early aspirations to climb the clergy ladder.
According to John Prevost, a neighbour even told Leo XIV when he was in first grade he would be the first American pope.
This unnamed neighbour’s prophecy came true on Thursday, as 69 year old Cardinal Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope.
The Prevost brothers grew up in the south-side of Chicago, Illinois. Robert, the youngest of three, was reportedly teased lovingly by his brothers for his clergy aspirations.
Speaking to the media, John said Leo had wanted to be a priest as long as he could remember.
“He knew right away,” he said. “I don’t think he ever questioned it. I don’t think he ever thought of anything else.”
Telling how the progeny papal used to “play pope” as a child, John spoke about how the ironing board would double as an altar in their childhood home.
Robert’s eldest brother Louis has also described the Holy Communions Leo would host, using Necco wafers as a stand-in for Sacramental bread.
Read More: Pope Leo XIV’s name choice ‘signals he will continue work of Francis’
Read More: Everything we know about Pope Leo XIV, the first-ever American pope
John also revealed that he sent his best wishes to his brother before he entered the cloistered conclave, saying he believed in him.
But Leo XIV dismissed the idea he could be the first American pope as “nonsense”.
“He just didn’t believe it, or didn’t want to believe it,” John said.
John has said he imagines Leo will follow in the late-Francis’ footsteps, prioritising the poor and disenfranchised.
“I think they were two of a kind,” John said of Francis and Leo.
“Because they were both in South America at the time - in Peru and Argentina - they had the same experiences in working with missions and the downtrodden.”
It's been speculated that Pope Leo XIV chose his name as a signal he will continue Francis' progressive legacy.
A Vatican spokesperson has confirmed that, by choosing the name Leo, Prevost was making reference to previous papal Leo XIII - the author of the Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers' rights at the dawn of the industrial age.