The recently elected brother of Pope Leo XIV made history as the first American pope, expressing his “overwhelming” feelings regarding the news on Thursday.
John Pribble shared with Fox32 that he finds it hard to articulate just how proud he is of his younger sibling.
“It’s overwhelming pride, but also this heavy responsibility—Chicago’s first American pope and a family member. It’s a bit scary,” Prevost remarked.
He noted that his brother’s journey towards becoming a pope began early, leading him straight to seminary right after eighth grade.
Pope Leo XIV, originally named Robert Prost, was thought to be a potential successor for Pope Francis following his passing last month. Prevost mentioned he had a sense something significant was in motion after hearing a radio discussion.
“They were interviewing someone on the radio who mentioned two candidates—one being a Cardinal from the Philippines and another from the Chicago area,” he explained. The latter is a Peruvian missionary now elevated to Cardinal.
Interestingly, Prevost recalled that decades ago, a childhood neighbor of the family once predicted that young Prevost would become the “first American Pope.”
“It’s funny, because a neighbor from back when he was in kindergarten remarked to my mom how they’d seen something special in him. They said he would grow up to be the first American pope,” Prevost recounted.
Looking ahead, he believes his brother might follow in the footsteps of “Pope Francis.” He noted, “He certainly has a strong inclination to support the needy, the marginalized, and those who lack a voice. The church should be universal and focus on aiding everyone.”
Prevost stressed that, especially with many leaving the faith lately, it’s crucial for his brother to work diligently to bring people back to the Catholic Church.
