Pope Leo XIV's brother always told him he was "weird"
The 69-year-old new pontiff - whose was born Robert Prevost before taking on his new name after becoming the leader of the Catholic Church last week - "always wanted to play priest" growing up, according to his older sibling Louis
14 May 2025
Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, Louis, 74, quipped: "I told my brother he was weird. [He] always wanted to play priest."
He added: "Nobody else in our 'hood played priest, but Robert did. And our parents always supported his wishes in that are.
"Mom let him use our ironing board to put a sheet over, and crackers we had for communion. My brother enjoyed this."
Despite his lighthearted teasing, Louis recalled how lots of people - from nuns at school to their friends' mothers - expected him to become pope in the future.
He said: "Even as a young kid in the second grade a nun told him, 'You will be pope some day'...
"They all thought my brother would grow up to be the pope!"
Last Thursday (08.05.25), that proved to be true when he was elected as the 267th pope following the death of Pope Francis.
Louis admitted everything has "changed forever" for his family.
He added: "It hasn't fully sunk in even after a few days that my little brother is now the pope.
"In fact, it's mind-boggling. Our family life has changed forever. It has been nonstop media buzz."
Last week, Leo made his first public address from the balcony as he told the crowds that his predecessor Pope Francis - who died in April at the age of 88 - was "courageous and blessed Rome".
He said: "The pope that blessed Rome gave his blessing to the whole world on that Easter morning.
"Let us follow up that blessing. God loves us and God loves all of you.
"Sin will not prevail, we are all in the hands of God."
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