Prevost's boyhood neighbors predicted he would become Pope

NEW LENOX, Ill. (WGN) — Long earlier helium was Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost and his 2 brothers were conscionable "kids connected a artifact of kids" increasing up successful southbound suburban Dolton, his member said.

But neighbors predicted determination were large things successful store for Robert, the youngest of the 3 Prevost boys.

"The absorbing happening is mode backmost erstwhile helium was successful kindergarten oregon archetypal grade, determination was a parent, a mom, crossed the thoroughfare — 1 crossed the thoroughfare that mode and different down the street," the caller Pope's brother, John Prevost, told NewsNation affiliate WGN connected Thursday. "Both of them said helium would beryllium the archetypal American Pope, astatine that age."

That prediction, made decades earlier Prevost attended the Augustine Seminary successful Holland, Mich., studied astatine Villanova University and became provincial with the Augustinians, came existent Thursday with Prevost's election arsenic the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

Prevost's sanction was included connected a database of those deemed "papabile" astir instantly aft the April 21 decease of Pope Francis, who elevated Prevost to Cardinal successful 2023.

When the Prevost brothers spoke connected Tuesday, John said the taxable of a papal sanction came up portion the brace played the online games Words With Friends and Wordle.

"He mentioned Leo. I said, 'Well, don't beryllium Leo, due to the fact that you wouldn't you beryllium Leo the 13th, and that would beryllium unlucky.' So helium did his research, and it was Leo the 14th, and that's what it came," Robert Prevost said.

He added that arsenic Pope, his member volition beryllium guided by his galore years successful the missionary successful Peru.

"He got to spot the different broadside of the world, the mediocre and impoverished," John Prevost said. "I deliberation arsenic Christians, isn't that what we're expected to bash is look retired for that radical of radical that are forgotten?"

While helium said he's "tremendously proud" of his younger brother, John said Robert didn't anticipation for the grant of being elevated to pope.

"Did helium privation this? Not astatine all. The responsibility, it's heavy. It's dense connected your shoulders," helium said. "I deliberation being the archetypal 1 from North America, being the archetypal American, radical are going to beryllium watching … I don't deliberation helium wants that horrible responsibility. It's a large honor, but look what helium has to uphold."