Pope Leo XIV’s Brother Says a Neighbor Once Predicted Robert Prevost Would Be Pope

For many, Robert Francis Prevost will now and everlastingly beryllium known arsenic Pope Leo XIV. For others, nan Chicago autochthonal becoming nan caput of nan Roman Catholic Church is thing they ever knew was possible.

After Pope Leo XIV, 69, became nan first American pope, ABC News spoke to one of his 2 brothers, John Prevost, who said those who knew nan caller pope earlier were ever alert he had thing typical successful him.

"I don't cognize really galore group will find it interesting, but erstwhile he was successful first grade, a female crossed nan thoroughfare that we utilized to play pinch nan kids, and a female down nan thoroughfare said he would beryllium nan first American pope. In first grade, they said that," said Prevost.

Prevost said that Pope Leo XIV "knew from that property he was going to beryllium a priest." With that early liking successful nan church, Prevost said his relative "wasn't astir a full lot" arsenic they were increasing older "because aft 8 people graduation he went instantly to nan seminary."

"So he was successful Holland, Michigan, astatine nan Augustinian seminary for 4 years, and past he went into Villanova University, which is an Augustinian university," said Prevost. "So he wasn't location a lot. Summer vacations he was home."

When asked if he thought his relative would beryllium chosen arsenic nan caller pope following Pope Francis' death on Monday, April 21, astatine nan property of 88, Prevost said, "To show you nan truth, no."

"Because I kept proceeding location will ne'er beryllium an American pope conscionable because of authorities and nan United State has excessively overmuch world powerfulness now they don't request besides [power] into nan church. So I did not expect it," said Prevost.

Prevost admitted that his mindset began to alteration aft he heard reports that his relative mightiness beryllium a front-runner for nan papacy.

"I said to him [Pope Leo XIV] Tuesday earlier he went into nan conclave, and he conscionable kept saying, 'No, that's not true. That's not true.' So he's pushing it away, hoping that it would spell away, and it didn't spell away," Prevost said.

During his first reside connected Thursday, May 8, soon aft his election, Pope Leo XIV thanked his predecessor, Pope Francis.

"We still support successful our ears that anemic but ever courageous sound of Pope Francis blessing Rome. The Pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to nan world, to nan full world that greeting connected Easter Sunday," he said.

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"Allow maine to travel up connected that aforesaid blessing: God loves us, God loves you each and evil will not prevail," Pope Leo XIV continued.