John Prevost, the older brother of Cardinal Robert Prevost—now Pope Leo XIV—expressed his astonishment and pride upon hearing the news of his sibling’s election as the first American pope. In an interview with NBC Chicago on May 9, 2025, John described the moment as “totally surreal” and “overwhelming,” acknowledging the immense responsibility that now rests on his brother’s shoulders.
He fondly remembered their last conversation before the conclave, where they relaxed by playing games like Wordle and Words with Friends to ease the tension. John mentioned that he had a “slight feeling” his brother could be elected, especially after hearing discussions that he was a leading contender. He also shared a childhood memory of a neighbor predicting that Robert would one day become the pope.
Despite Robert’s new title, John emphasized that he would continue calling him “Rob,” just as he always has. He expressed immense pride in his brother’s journey and said their late parents, who passed away before seeing Robert rise to cardinal, would have been “speechless” with pride.
