In a suburb of Chicago, Robert Francis Prevost, who has been elected as Pope Leo XIV, displayed a childhood inclination towards religious roles rather than typical boyhood fantasies. His eldest brother, Louis Prevost, reminisced about their upbringing, noting the playful teasing they engaged in, suggesting that Robert would one day become pope.
Louis Prevost, now 73, expressed surprise at his brother's election to lead the 1.4 billion members of the Roman Catholic Church, stating, “My brother’s the pope. Yikes.” The Prevost brothers, including Louis, Rob, and John, were raised in Dolton, Illinois, where they attended St. Mary of the Assumption Church and school. Their father served as a school superintendent, while their mother was a librarian.
Louis described Robert as a natural peacemaker during their childhood, despite some roughhousing among the siblings. He reflected on their past, saying, “Jeez, it was like just yesterday, I was throwing him down the stairs. And now he’s pope!”
Living in Florida since 2020, Louis speculated on his brother's papacy, suggesting that Pope Leo XIV might be similar to his predecessor, Pope Francis, but with a more conservative approach to church matters. He mentioned their differing views on conflict, highlighting his own more aggressive mindset compared to Robert's pacifism.
Louis, who has a passion for line dancing and enjoys Led Zeppelin, shared that he spoke with Robert earlier in the week before the conclave. He expressed uncertainty about future communication, humorously noting the difficulty of contacting the pope, likening it to calling a president. Despite this, he is confident in Robert’s abilities and believes he will excel in his new role, stating, “He’ll do a bang-up job.”