Pope Leo XIV’s brother, John Prevost, granted an interview with a Chicago medium in which he shared several aspects of the daily life of the Pontiff, from his family relationship to his personal and spiritual tastes.
John Prevost, 70 years old and retired as a secondary school director, maintains frequent communication with the Holy Father. In fact, he said, both continue to speak every day and even share online games such as Wordle and Words With Friends.
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Next, some of the most striking details that he shared about the life of the Pope:
1. They speak every day
John Prevost told NBC who still speaks daily by phone with his brother, Pope Leo XIV, and they even continue playing together to Wordle y Words With Friends.
“Now I usually ask: ‘What famous person did you know today?’, Because he is always with audiences,” he said.
They have not lost the jokes of brothers.
When asked if he greets him with a “hello, bob” or “hello, potato”, John said they usually joke with that. Sometimes he says in play: “Is it your holiness?”, To which the Pontiff replies: “Yes, my son, what can I help you?”
2. The Pope enjoys going to Castel Gandolfo
The Holy Father has resumed the tradition of resting in the summer residence near Rome, something that was not done since the Pontificate of Benedict XVI.
“He wants to do something permanent. It has been there for two weeks, he has returned again and plans to do it more often, because it is a relaxing place and away from the crowd. There he can really rest, and he does not have to be dressed all the time with the papal outfit,” his brother explained.
3. The Pope seems to be taking advantage of the pool and tennis courts
Prevost did not explicitly affirm that his brother plays tennis or swim frequently, but confirmed that he “makes use” of those facilities in Castel Gandolfo.
4. The strange pope
According to John, the Pontiff has no preference for beach or mountain while he can handle a car: “Driving for him is totally relaxing.”
In the past, when they gathered, John always let his younger brother handle, “because if not, I criticized my way of driving.” Today, not being able to make it more “bothers him,” he added.
5. He ate that pizza in public
When a faithful gave him a pizza of Aurelia’s, one of his favorite Chicago pizzerias, the Pope got off the papamobile, accepted it and ate it all. It was sausage.
“She was taken her guards to make sure she was sure, she reheated it and ate it complete,” said his brother.
Its preferred pizza flavor? Pepperoni.
6. He had an childhood like any child’s
John recalled that as little ones “we did what all the children did: go out to play, ride a bike, play baseball, four corners, all that with the boys in the neighborhood.” However, her mother did not allow them to go out to ask for sweets on Halloween: “She thought it was begging,” he said.
7. It was very close to Pope Francis
John said that his brother Leo XIV was “very close” to Pope Francis and that both “were very good friends.”
8. He made a promise to return to Chicago
Asked about whether the Pope plans to return to his hometown, Prevost replied that “everything is possible.” However, he assured that there is an occasion when he will return with certainty: “The only sure thing is that it will come to my funeral.”
According to John, when he raised this to his brother, the Pope replied with humor: “Maybe they have to keep the body on ice for a while, but I will arrive.”
9. His sweet favorite is not the one who would expect
When asked what to take to Rome in October, Prevost replied: “Peeps”.
“That is his sweet favorite in the world,” he said.
10. He is the member of the family that repairs everything
At home, they used to leave the most complicated repairs to their younger brother.
“I used to say: ‘I keep this for when Rob comes, because he will take care.’
Anything that required a ladder, I didn’t, but he did, ”he recalled.
11. He likes optimistic films
John said his brother enjoys entertaining movies and with a positive ending.
12. Fond of legal thriller novels
Before being a potato, he used to read legal thrillers, especially those of John Grisham.
13. He asked his brother to be careful in the interviews
Prevost was accompanied during the interview by friar Agustino Ray Flores.
When asked if the Pope asks him to be prudent with his statements, he replied: “Yes, absolutely. That’s why this gentleman is here.”
14. The Pope is praying around the world
Finally, John said: “I think people do not know that he is taking this very seriously. He may not seem like it when they see him enjoying it, but he actually carries a great burden on his shoulders and is praying around the world.”
Translated and adapted by ACI Press. Originally published in National Catholic Register.
Zelda Caldwell
Zelda Caldwell is a senior writer of the National Catholic Register based in Washington DC (United States).