Pope Leo XIV hinted to his brother before the Conclave that he might become the next Pope, although he chose to disregard this advice.
His brother, John Prevost, shared some surprising insights following a phone call with Robert Francis Prible just before they were sequestered in the Sistine Chapel alongside 132 other Cardinals.
John recalled, “He asked me, ‘What should my name be?’” during a conversation from his Chicago-area home.
He continued, “We started throwing out names for fun. I mentioned the number 13 and joked that he shouldn’t pick Leo.” It seems he actually put some thought into it and realized it was the 14th day.
John was taken aback when his younger brother, who grew up in Chicago, was elected as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
“It wasn’t just the idea that it could happen—there was a sense of possibility,” he observed.
John also commented on the Pope’s favorite baseball team, suggesting it might need divine help to change perceptions.
Despite speculation surrounding the new Pope being a Cubs fan, it turns out he’s a die-hard White Sox supporter.
“He’s never liked the Cubs, so I’m not sure how that rumor got started,” he said.
Moreover, John noted, “He’s always been a Sox fan.” Their mother’s family was from the North Side, which accounts for their Cub fandom.
Interestingly, young Pope Leo XIV chose his team, even though his father was a supporter of the St. Louis Cardinals.
In a twist of irony, the Chicago Cubs jokingly posted on social media, “Hey Chicago, he’s a Cubs fan!” outside Wrigley Field after his election.
Meanwhile, the White Sox recently faced a tough season, finishing with one of the worst records in history last year.
