POPE LEO XIV played at being a priest as a child and used the family’s ironing board as an altar, his brother has revealed.
Robert Prevost — as he was known before he became the first American-born pontiff this week — also handed out biscuits as communion wafers.
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His brother John, 71, who still lives in their native Chicago, said: “He wanted to play priest so he put a tablecloth over our mom’s ironing board and we had to go to mass.”
He said young Robert also used an American biscuit called Necco Wafers, adding: “These were the communion wafers. It was all taken very seriously, it was not a joke.”
Pope Leo, 69, the 267th pontiff, was one of three sons born to librarian Mildred and school principal Louis.
He studied maths at Villanova University in Philadelphia, then returned to Chicago to train as a priest. But John told how his brother’s calling started at a much younger age.
He told US TV show Good Morning America: “From the time he was five or six years old he knew this was his fate — not that he would be Pope, but that he would be a priest.
“He had that from a very young age, and he never faltered.”
His eldest brother Louis, who now lives in Florida, added: “We used to tease him all the time, ‘You’re going to be the Pope one day’.
“We knew something was special about him.”
Very emotional
While maintaining his American roots — he supports the Chicago White Sox baseball team and is said to love deep-dish pizza — the then Robert made a life in the Peruvian city of Chiclayo, where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023.
He also became a Peruvian citizen, and Catholic writer Austen Ivereigh said of his elevation to the papacy: “That is the genius of this election — both the US and South America can claim him.”
And the new Pope’s goddaughter, Peruvian influencer Mildred Camacho Dioses — who was named after his mother — said her family “jumped for joy” when this week’s news broke.
She said: “He’s an excellent person and I still can’t believe he’s now the Pope. It’s made me very emotional to know that he’s the representative of God on Earth.”
Speaking from her family home in Chulucanas, near Peru’s border with Ecuador, Mildred added: “When I heard the name Robert Prevost I rang my parents and my aunts and uncles.
“It’s something we’re still processing, because we can’t believe it. He has always been present in my life, writing to me and sending me greetings on my birthday and other important dates.
“I last saw him last August, when he came to Chulucanas and he met my daughters.
“He gave them his blessing, and blessed my home and sent greetings to my grandparents who he also has a close relationship with.”
Asked if she had a message for the new Pope, Mildred said: “Godfather, we’re all so happy and so proud.”
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The previous pope to take the name Leo, Pope Leo XIII, was an Italian whose baptismal name was Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci.
He was elected in 1878 and led the Catholic Church until he died in 1903.
He is remembered for his dedication to social justice.
The first Pope Leo — known as St Leo the Great — led the church between 440 and 461AD, and was known for his commitment to peace.
While the new Pope Leo has yet to say why he chose the name, it has been suggested that the deep commitment to social issues that the name represents is in line with his beliefs.
Notably, his first words as pope were: “Peace be with you”.
These (biscuits) were the communion wafers. It was all taken very seriously. It was not a joke
John Prevost
And Edinson Edgardo Farfan Cordova, the current bishop of Chiclayo, where Pope Leo used to live and work, called him a “shepherd among people”.
He said: “I am convinced Pope Leo XIV will continue the line of communion and closeness to the poor that marked the pontificate of Francis.”
It has also been revealed that the new pope watched the film Conclave before taking part in the real thing so he “knew how to behave”.
The award-winning Ralph Fiennes movie follows a cardinal organising the conclave who investigates secrets and scandals about the candidates.
John said he had asked his brother if he had watched the film to “laugh about something because this is now an awesome responsibility”.
Of his brother’s new role leading the 1.4billion-strong Catholic Church, he added: “We are so proud.”
LEO IS A MAN OF HIS WORDLE
WHILE Pope Leo XIV leads the 1.4bn-strong Catholic Church, he has interests and hobbies just like us. We reveal ten fascinating facts.
- He is a fan of the Chicago White Sox baseball team
- The pontiff is a keen amateur tennis player
- He plays the web-based word game Wordle
- A keen horseman, he rode in the mountains of Peru as a missionary
- Colleague Father Joseph Farrell revealed Leo supports football club AS Roma
- Leo earned a maths degree from Villanova University in 1977
- He can speak seven languages – English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, Latin and German.
- He watched the award-winning Hollywood movie Conclave
- He plays a Scrabble-like online game called Words With Friends
- He likes deep-dish pizza