In an exclusive interview with ABC News, John Prevost, the brother of newly elected Pope Leo XIV, shared his emotional reaction to the historic moment. The world’s first American Pope hails from Chicago’s South Side, and for John, the reality of his brother’s elevation to the papacy still hasn’t quite sunk in.
John’s voice was a mix of disbelief, pride, and spiritual awe as he spoke with ABC. “Not a lot of people can say, ‘my brother is the Pope,’” he said, still processing the whirlwind of calls, texts, and media attention that began the moment white smoke rose above St. Peter’s Basilica.
At first, the idea of an American Pope seemed far-fetched. But when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was named among the final three candidates, everything changed. When the announcement of Pope Leo XIV finally came, the Prevost family erupted with joy, unable to contain their pride and astonishment.
John describes his brother as a humble, ordinary man, deeply shaped by his missionary work in South America. “He’s a regular run-of-the-mill guy,” John said, emphasizing the Pope’s passion for serving the poor and marginalized, a commitment that began long before his rise to the papacy.
Pope Leo XIV spent years working in Peru and Argentina, where he first crossed paths with Pope Francis, who was then Cardinal Bergoglio. Those years of service, John believes, profoundly shaped his brother’s heart for the voiceless and the poor.
Though Leo XIV left Chicago for the seminary after eighth grade, the South Side remains deeply ingrained in his story. John recalled a childhood moment when a neighbor looked at young Robert and declared, “That one’s gonna be Pope.”
Imagine it — a neighborhood kid riding his bike, and someone calling his future as the Vicar of Christ. It’s a moment that now seems like a prophetic glimpse into the divine plans God had in store.
From Chicago’s sidewalks to the Vatican balcony, the journey of Pope Leo XIV is a profound reminder of how God can use ordinary beginnings to accomplish extraordinary purposes. And for Pope Leo, it’s a story that’s only just beginning.
