From playing priest to leading church: Pope Leo XIV’s humble beginnings

The eldest brother of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Louis Prevost, recently shared some lighthearted recollections from their childhood in Illinois, offering a glimpse into the early life of the man now leading the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics.

Growing up in Dolton, Illinois, just south of Chicago, Robert Francis Prevost — known as Rob to his family — did not dream of being a cowboy or a bank robber like other boys. Instead, he preferred to play priest, according to Louis Prevost, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

“We teased him a lot about, ‘Na na na, you’re gonna be the pope,’” Louis, 73, recalled in an interview at his home in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Despite their playful teasing, Louis admitted it was still a surprise when Rob was actually elected to the papacy. “My brother’s the pope,” Louis said, still sounding a bit amazed. “Yikes.”

The Prevost brothers — Louis, Rob, and John — attended church and school at St. Mary of the Assumption on Chicago’s South Side. Their father, also named Louis, was a school superintendent, while their mother, Mildred, was a librarian. Louis described Rob as the family peacemaker, even in their rough-and-tumble childhood. “Jeez, it was like just yesterday, I was throwing him down the stairs,” Louis joked. “And now he’s pope!”

Reflecting on what kind of pontiff his brother might be, Louis said, “I think he’s going to be similar to Francis, but maybe not quite as liberal-minded, you know, flexing the church rules quite so much. I think he’d be a little more conservative.” Louis, who describes himself as a conservative Catholic, acknowledged their differences, particularly regarding matters of conflict and war.

“I’m of that mind-set,” he said, explaining his more forceful approach to conflict. “You come at me, guess what? You’re going to feel the wrath. Rob, not so much.”

Louis, who has been living in Florida since 2020, said he had spoken to his brother shortly before the papal conclave began but now wonders when, or if, they will speak again. “I don’t know that you can just pick up the phone and call the pope,” he said. “It’s like calling the president or something.”

As for future visits, Louis added, “I don’t expect we’ll see the Popemobile pulling up outside.” Nonetheless, he is confident that his brother, now Pope Leo XIV, will excel in his new role. “He’ll do a bang-up job,” Louis said, expressing pride in his sibling’s extraordinary journey from their humble beginnings in Illinois to the Vatican.

By Vafa Guliyeva