Brotherly surprise: "He mentioned Roberto, I knew right away". American cardinal becomes Pope Leo XIV
Louis Prevost, brother of Leo XIV, shared with ABC7 News how he felt when he learned that his younger brother had become the 267th pope. "I still was in shock," he admitted.
On May 8, the day the cardinals elected the new pope, Louis Prevost, the eldest brother, was feeling unwell and was resting at his home in Port Charlotte, Florida.
"My wife called and said, 'white smoke, white smoke," Louis Prevost recounted in an interview with ABC7 News. After his wife's call, he turned on the TV to watch the live broadcast from St. Peter’s Square.
"When the cardinal came out, and we're all waiting, and he goes, and he mentioned Roberto, I knew right away,” said Louis Prevost.
He laughed that had he not been lying down, the news might have caused him to faint due to the sheer surprise. Speaking to ABC7, he admitted feeling torn, partly expecting the outcome, yet still caught off guard. The decision stood out to him because the newly elected pope was both young and American—a historic first. Still, he acknowledged that the new pontiff brought substantial experience to the role, making him a strong contender.
Leo XIV’s older brother also mentioned that they stay in close contact, usually speaking at least once a week. He noted they had conversations with Robert on both Monday and Tuesday leading up to the conclave.
"He was always 'holy'"
Louis Prevost recalled that during their childhood, his brother often pretended to be a priest and was known among the family for his devout nature. He added that they used to joke with him, saying he would become pope one day.
Several decades later, childhood jokes became a reality.
The pope has two brothers—Louis Martin and John Joseph. The latter is a retired Catholic school principal from Chicago. "I always heard that an American could not become pope—because of politics... That the United States already has too much power in the world, so they don't need the Church too," he noted in a conversation with ABC News.
