In an exclusive interview, Louis Prevost, the elder brother of Pope Leo XIV, shared insights on their upbringing in Dolton, Illinois, where Rob, as he is affectionately known, stood out for his penchant for playing priest over cowboys. Louis, reflecting on their boyhood, reminisced, “We teased him a lot about, ‘Na na na, you’re gonna be the pope.’” Despite their playful jabs, the election of Rob to lead 1.4 billion Catholics was a surprise to both him and the world.
Future Pope Leo XIV: A Peacemaker from Illinois Steps into Leadership
Future Pope Leo XIV: A Peacemaker from Illinois Steps into Leadership
The unexpected journey of Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, has roots in his Illinois childhood as a dedicated peacemaker.
Growing up in a close-knit family, the Prevost brothers attended St. Mary of the Assumption church and school, building a foundation of faith and service. Their father, a school superintendent, and their mother, a librarian, instilled in them the values of community and education. The future pope's gentle nature as a peacemaker became evident in their rough-and-tumble childhood. Louis humorously recounted, “Jeez, it was like just yesterday, I was throwing him down the stairs. And now he’s pope!”
As an adult, Louis Prevost describes a divergence in their views on church tradition and conflict. He believes his brother will lean towards a more conservative approach in his papacy compared to Pope Francis. While the new pope embodies ideals of peace, Louis holds a firmer stance on conflict, quipping, “You come at me, guess what? You’re going to feel the wrath.”
Louis, now residing in Port Charlotte, Florida, expressed a poignant mix of pride and uncertainty about the future. He recently spoke to his brother before the conclave—a conversation that feels both significant and distant, noting, “I don’t know that you can just pick up the phone and call the pope.” Yet he is confident in Leo’s abilities, stating, “He’ll do a bang-up job.”
As the world watches the new pontiff's journey unfold, Louis Prevost’s reflections serve as a heartfelt glimpse into the man behind the papal title.
As an adult, Louis Prevost describes a divergence in their views on church tradition and conflict. He believes his brother will lean towards a more conservative approach in his papacy compared to Pope Francis. While the new pope embodies ideals of peace, Louis holds a firmer stance on conflict, quipping, “You come at me, guess what? You’re going to feel the wrath.”
Louis, now residing in Port Charlotte, Florida, expressed a poignant mix of pride and uncertainty about the future. He recently spoke to his brother before the conclave—a conversation that feels both significant and distant, noting, “I don’t know that you can just pick up the phone and call the pope.” Yet he is confident in Leo’s abilities, stating, “He’ll do a bang-up job.”
As the world watches the new pontiff's journey unfold, Louis Prevost’s reflections serve as a heartfelt glimpse into the man behind the papal title.
