Pope Leo XIV: A Peacemaker with Roots in Illinois

Louis Prevost reflects on their upbringing, revealing insights into the character of his brother, the new leader of the Catholic Church.

Growing up in an Illinois suburb, Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, always had a unique affinity for playing priest rather than indulging in typical childhood fantasies. His eldest brother, Louis Prevost, reminisced, expressing his initial surprise at Rob's election to lead the global Roman Catholic community of over 1.4 billion believers.

Louis, aged 73 and residing in Port Charlotte, Florida, recalled teasing his brother during their childhood, saying, “We joked often, ‘Na na na, you’re gonna be the pope,’” but now he finds it surreal to say, “My brother’s the pope.”

The three Prevost brothers, hailing from a suburban neighborhood near Chicago, shared a close-knit upbringing, nurtured by their father, a school superintendent, and their mother, a librarian. Louis described Rob as a peacemaker, despite their wild and sometimes rough childhood adventures, adding humorously, “Just yesterday, I was throwing him down the stairs. And now he’s pope!”

As for expectations of his brother's papacy, Louis speculates that Pope Leo XIV may echo the style of Pope Francis, yet likely maintain a more conservative stance. “I think he’ll be a bit stricter regarding church rules,” he commented, acknowledging their differing views, particularly on matters of conflict and war.

While Louis served in the Navy at the time of Rob's ordination as a priest in 1982, their contrasting mindsets on violence became apparent. “You come at me, guess what? You’re going to feel the wrath,” he noted, contrasting with Rob's more pacifistic approach.

Having just spoken to his brother before the conclave, Louis now ponders the realities of communicating with someone in such high stature. “I don’t know that you can just pick up the phone and call the pope,” he mused, likening it to calling a president. He joked about the improbability of the "Popemobile" showing up outside his home.

Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in his brother’s ability to fulfill his papal duties, asserting emphatically, “He’ll do a bang-up job.”