A brother recalled that a childhood neighbor of Pope Leo XIV, back when he was just a little boy in Chicago, had a notable prediction.
“Interestingly, he returned during his kindergarten or first-grade days, and there was a mother across the street,” he shared with WGN9 on Thursday.
“Both of them mentioned he would be the first American pope in that era.”
Pope Leo XIV recently spoke during a Mass with the Cardinals at the Sistine Chapel on May 9, 2025.
Pope Leo XIV had a second-grade class in 1962.
Prevost shared these predictions soon after his brother was chosen as the 267th pope in the Catholic Church.
“She had that feeling when he was just 6,” he mentioned in an interview with the Associated Press.
“It’s remarkable to think about how she knew that.”
Prevost always believed that his brother, then known as Robert Praist, was destined to become a priest.
In an interview on May 8, 2025, in New Lenox, Illinois, John Prevost pointed out an old photo of his brother alongside the newly elected Pope Leo XIV.
Now that his brother leads the church, Prevost expressed hopes that he could evolve into “the second Pope Francis.” He remarked, “He’s not far off, yet he won’t become too distant.”
“It’s situated in the middle,” he stated, reflecting on the honor of his brother’s election.
“It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime occasion,” he added.
“However, I think it comes with significant responsibility. It could lead to greater things, yet people will be observing him closely to see his actions.”
