Imagine – you are giving an important interview, and in the middle of it, the phone is ringing repeatedly. And when you finally look, you realize that the call was not from anyone else, but from your brother – who has now become the greatest Catholic leader in the world, the Pope!
This was exactly the moment for John Prevost, when he was giving an interview to the Associated Press. John, the brother of Pope Leo XIV, suddenly realizes that he has missed several calls from his brother – the new Pope.
“It was my brother’s call!” – Saying this, he immediately called him back.
They talked on the phone. A short congratulatory chat, some travel talk, and then a casual brotherly chat. Pope Leo said he did not want to be a part of the interview. Then both brothers hung up the phone – as every casual brother does. But the story does not end here.
Who is Pope Leo XIV?
Robert Francis Prevost, known as Pope Leo XIV, has become the first US-born pontiff to hold the papal seat in the Vatican. He was elected on Thursday, when the cardinals elected him Pope in a secret conclave. On Friday he also conducted his first private Mass in the Sistine Chapel – which was broadcast live around the world.
Leo XIV gave a simple but powerful message in his first address: “Unity, it is time to move forward.” He gave the world a vision of a peaceful and inclusive Church.
Brother in the eyes of a brother
John Prevost says that his brother is going to be a “second Pope Francis”. He said:
“He is not going to go too far to the left, nor too far to the right. He is going to stay right in the middle – a balanced Pope.”
This balance was also a hallmark of Pope Francis. And when John showed an old photo outside his house – a photo from 1958 in which three brothers are in a frame – there was a different depth of emotions in it. There was pride in his eyes, but there was also a normal concern for one brother.
What does the name “Leo” mean?
When the name of a Pope is selected, it is not just a name – it is a statement. When Pope Leo XIV also chose this name, people immediately remembered Pope Leo XIII – who became Pope in 1878.
He talked about workers’ rights, unions, and fair wages in his 1891 encyclical “Rerum Novarum.” That’s why he says:
“If Pope Francis was the People’s Pope, then Pope Leo XIV would be the Workers’ Pope.”
His name, his past (serving in Peru), and his political positioning all suggest that he wants a reform-minded, moderate, and inclusive Church.
Leo XIV: An American Pope, A Global Outlook
After Leo XIV was elected, there was a festive atmosphere in Chicago. Mayor Brandon Johnson tweeted:
“Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago.”
Former President Barack Obama also congratulated, and Peru’s President Dina Boluarte called him “Peruvian by choice and conviction” – because he has spent a large part of his life in church service in Peru.
Yes, on one hand leaders like Trump called this election a “great honor”, while on the other hand on social media, one of his old X (Twitter) accounts showed some dissent from his Trump administration. An article was shared criticizing JD Vance’s immigration stance – the headline was: “Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”
A Look at Social and Political Trends
John Prevost told the media:
“I know my brother is not happy with the current state of immigration. If he has something to say, he will not keep quiet.”
This reflects his bold and clear thinking. But he is not just a political thinker – his focus is on both Church traditions and reforms.
Pope Leo XIV, like his predecessors, has a traditional stance on homosexuality and women’s ordination. In 2012, he described homosexuality as “a misconception of the Western media.” He also has this to say on the issue of women clergy:
“Clericalising women will not solve the Church’s problems, but can create new complications.”
A new era, a new thinking
Leo XIV is a Pope who not only talks about social justice, but also works to make the Church’s spirit relevant in the modern world with spiritual depth. His papacy can become a bridge – between tradition and modernity.
And when his brother John connects with him through a missed call – it is not just a fun anecdote, but a reminder that no matter how high one’s stature, a human being remains first and foremost a brother, a son, a friend.
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