It is not everyday who can call Pope Leo XIV brother. But John Prevost can.
John Prevost spoke of that relationship and his feelings on the heels of his baby brother being newly elected to lead the world’s Catholics, per Fox News.
“It’s overwhelming pride, but it’s also an overwhelming responsibility, being the first American Pope from Chicago – and a relative. Frightening,” Prevost said.
Prevost said the future pope’s calling came at a young age, which took him away from home much of the year. He went into the seminary after eighth grade.
“So, the whole high school years, college years, we didn’t really know him other than the summer vacation,” he said.
Pope Leo XIV was born Robert Prevost. John Prevost heard there was a possibility his brother could be pope after listening to the radio.
“They were interviewing someone on the radio, and she said there are two likely candidates: One of the Cardinals from the Philippines, and one is a Cardinal, as a matter of fact, from the Chicago area. He was a missionary in Peru and now he’s a Cardinal in Rome,” Prevost said.
But there were hints of Robert Prevost’s destiny long before that.
A childhood friend predicted he would be the “first American pope,” Prevost said.
“The interesting thing is way back when he was in kindergarten or first grade, there was a parent, a mom, across the street — one across the street that way and another down the street,” John Prevost, told WGN. “Both of them said he would be the first American Pope, at that age.”
Looking forward, John Prevost believes the new pope will be “a second Pope Francis.”
“I think he has a strong inclination to help the poor, the disenfranchised, the people that don’t have a voice because he spent so much time in Peru with the people who were impoverished,” Prevost said. “So, I think she sees that need and I think he will work for that. The church has to be universal and help everyone but some people need a lot more help … I don’t think he can do anything, but I think immigration is big time on his mind. He thinks the country’s headed in the wrong direction there.”
It is likely the road ahead will not be easy for the new pope, his brother said.
“So many people have gone away,” John Prevost said.
