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POPE LEO XIV’S BROTHER SPEAKS ABOUT HIS LIFE
Before he was Pope Leo XIV, he was Chicago native Robert Prevost, whose new role as the first American to lead the Catholic Church has thrown him and his family into the spotlight.
The newly elected pope’s brother John Prevost, who lives in the Chicago suburb of New Lenox, Illinois, said learning his sibling is now the pope has been a lot to absorb.
“I haven’t had a moment to think about it. But it’s totally unreal, totally surreal, and it’s a tremendous, tremendous thing to take in, but it’s something to be very proud of,” he told NBC Chicago on May 8, shortly after his brother’s appointment.
Leo is the youngest of three brothers. John Prevost, who is the middle son and one year older than the pontiff, spoke to the new pope right before the conclave, where the duo enjoyed some fun and games as a distraction.
“First, we do Wordle, because this is a regular thing, OK? Then we do Words With Friends. It’s something to keep his mind off life in the real world,” he said. “And then we talk about what’s going on. And I said, ‘Well, do you have your red socks?’ That doesn’t go over well all the time. And then just that kind of stuff.”
John Prevost
John Prevost is the middle of three brothers.NBC News
Prevost, who worked as a Catholic school principal for 27 years, also said he asked his brother if he prepped for his big moment by taking in the movie “Conclave.”
“And I said, ‘Well, are you ready for this?’ I said, ‘Did you watch the movie “Conclave,” so you know how to behave.’ And he had just finished watching the movie ‘Conclave.’ So, he knew how to behave. So it’s that kind of stuff because I wanted to take his mind off of it, laugh about something, because this is now an awesome responsibility.”
And while Leo is now the 267th pope in history, his brother, who said he plans to go to Rome on May 9, explained he comes from humble roots.
The newly elected Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV is seen for the first time from the Vatican balcony on May 8, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinal Robert Prevost will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
The newly elected pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, is seen for the first time from the Vatican balcony on May 8, 2025, in Vatican City.Antonio Masiello / Getty Images
“We all grew up in Dolton (Illinois). I think it was just a normal childhood,” Prevost said, noting his brother left for the Augustinian Seminary after eighth grade and was only really at home for summer, Easter and Christmas breaks.
A life in religion seemed to be in the cards for the pope very early, too.
“I think he knew it by first grade that he was going to be a priest,” his brother said. “And there was no question in anyone’s mind. I think the question that our parents had was, ‘Would you be a diocesan priest and work at a parish, or would you be an order priest,’ which he chose, Augustinian.”
As a Chicago native, there is also the question of what baseball team the pope cheers for, with early reports saying he supports the Cubs, but his brother said he actually likes the team on the South Side.
“Whoever said Cubs on the radio got it wrong. It’s Sox,” he said.
